by Max Brand
CHAPTER XXXIV
THE COWARD
Before the coyote cried again, three shadows glided into the night. The lighted window in the house was like a staring eye that searched after them, but Satan, with the wolf running before, vanished quickly among the shadows of the hills. They were glad. They were loosed in the void of the mountain-desert with no destiny save the will of the master. They seemed like one being rather than three. The wolf was the eyes, the horse the strong body to flee or pursue, and the man was the brain which directed, and the power which struck.
He had formulated no plan of action to free Buck and kill Silent. All he knew was that he must reach the long riders at once, and he would learn their whereabouts from Morris. He rode more slowly as he approached the hotel of the sheriff. Lights burned at the dining-room windows. Probably the host still sat at table with his guests, but it was strange that they should linger over their meal so late. He had hoped that he would be able to come upon Morris by surprise. Now he must take him in the midst of many men. With Black Bart slinking at his heels he walked softly across the porch and tiptoed through the front room.
The door to the dining-room was wide. Around the table sat a dozen men, with the sheriff at their head. The latter, somewhat red of face, as if from the effort of a long speech, was talking low and earnestly, sometimes brandishing his clenched fist with such violence that it made his flabby cheeks quiver.
“We’ll get to the house right after dawn,” he was saying, “because that’s the time when most men are so thick-headed with sleep that—”
“Not Whistling Dan Barry,” said one of the men, shaking his head. “He won’t be thick-headed. Remember, I seen him work in Elkhead, when he slipped through the hands of a roomful of us.”
A growl of agreement went around the table, and Black Bart in sympathy, echoed the noise softly.
“What’s that?” called the sheriff, raising his head sharply.
Dan, with a quick gesture, made Black Bart slink a pace back.
“Nothin’,” replied one of the men. “This business is gettin’ on your nerves, sheriff. I don’t blame you. It’s gettin’ on mine.”
“I’m trustin’ to you boys to stand back of me all through,” said the sheriff with a sort of whine, “but I’m thinkin’ that we won’t have no trouble. When we see him we won’t stop for no questions to be asked, but turn loose with our six-guns an’ shoot him down like a dog. He’s not human an’ he don’t deserve—Oh, God!”
He started up from his chair, white faced, his hands high above his head, staring at the apparition of Whistling Dan, who stood with two revolvers covering the posse. Every man was on his feet instantly, with arms straining stiffly up. The muzzles of revolvers are like the eyes of some portraits. No matter from what angle you look at them, they seem directed straight at you. And every cowpuncher in the room was sure that he was the main object of Dan’s aim.
“Morris!” said Dan.
“For God’s sake, don’t shoot!” screamed the sheriff. “I—”
“Git down on your knees! Watch him, Bart!”
As the sheriff sank obediently to his knees, the wolf slipped up to him with a stealthy stride and stood half crouched, his teeth bared, silent. No growl could have made Bart more terribly threatening. Dan turned completely away from Morris so that he could keep a more careful watch on the others.
“Call off your wolf!” moaned Morris, a sob of terror in his voice.
“I ought to let him set his teeth in you,” said Dan, “but I’m goin’ to let you off if you’ll tell me what I want to know.”
“Yes! Anything!”
“Where’s Jim Silent?”
All eyes flashed towards Morris. The latter, as the significance of the question came home to him, went even a sicklier white, like the belly of a dead fish. His eyes moved swiftly about the circle of his posse. Their answering glares were sternly forbidding.
“Out with it!” commanded Dan.
The sheriff strove mightily to speak, but only a ghastly whisper came: “You got the wrong tip, Dan. I don’t know nothin’ about Silent. I’d have him in jail if I did!”
“Bart!” said Dan.
The wolf slunk closer to the kneeling man. His hot breath fanned the face of the sheriff and his lips grinned still farther back from the keen, white teeth.
“Help!” yelled Morris. “He’s at the shanty up on Bald-eagle Creek.”
A rumble, half cursing and half an inarticulate snarl of brute rage, rose from the cowpunchers.
“Bart,” called Dan again, and leaped back from the door, raced out to Satan, and drove into the night at a dead gallop.
Half the posse rushed after him. A dozen shots were pumped after the disappearing shadowy figure. Two or three jumped into their saddles. The others called them back.
“Don’t be an ass, Monte,” said one. “You got a good hoss, but you ain’t fool enough to think he c’n catch Satan?”
They trooped back to the dining-room, and gathered in a silent circle around the sheriff, whose little fear-bright eyes went from face to face.
“Ah, this is the swine,” said one, “that was guardin’ our lives!”
“Fellers,” pleaded the sheriff desperately, “I swear to you that I jest heard of where Silent was today. I was keepin’ it dark until after we got Whistling Dan. Then I was goin’ to lead you—”
The flat of a heavy hand struck with a resounding thwack across his lips. He reeled back against the wall, sputtering the blood from his split mouth.
“Pat,” said Monte, “your hoss is done for. Will you stay here an’ see that he don’t get away? We’ll do somethin’ with him when we get back.”
Pat caught the sheriff by his shirt collar and jerked him to a chair. The body of the fat man was trembling like shaken jelly. The posse turned away.
They could not overtake Whistling Dan on his black stallion, but they might arrive before Silent and his gang got under way. Their numbers were over small to attack the formidable long riders, but they wanted blood. Before Whistling Dan reached the valley of Bald-eagle Creek they were in the saddle and riding hotly in pursuit.
CHAPTER XXXV
CLOSE IN!
In that time ruined shack towards which the posse and Dan Barry rode, the outlaws sat about on the floor eating their supper when Hal Purvis entered. He had missed the trail from the Salton place to the Bald-eagle half a dozen times that day, and that had not improved his bitter mood.
“You been gone long enough,” growled Silent. “Sit down an’ chow an’ tell us what you know.”
“I don’t eat with no damned traitors,” said Purvis savagely. “Stan’ up an’ tell us that you’re a double crossin’ houn’, Buck Daniels!”
“You better turn in an’ sleep,” said Buck calmly. “I’ve knowed men before that loses their reason for want of sleep!”
“Jim,” said Purvis, turning sharply on the chief, “Barry is at Buck’s house!”
“You lie!” said Buck.
“Do I lie?” said Purvis, grinding his teeth. “I seen Black Bart hangin’ around your house.”
Jim Silent reached out a heavy paw and dropped it on the shoulder of Buck. Their eyes met through a long moment, and then the glance of Buck wavered and fell.
“Buck,” said Silent, “I like you. I don’t want to believe what Purvis says. Give me your word of honour that Whistlin’ Dan—”
“He’s right, Jim,” said Buck.
“An’ he dies like a yaller cur!” broke in Purvis, snarling.
“No,” said Silent, “when one of the boys goes back on the gang, they pay me, not the rest of you! Daniels, take your gun and git down to the other end of the room an’ stand with your face to the wall. I’ll stay at this end. Keep your arms folded. Haines, you stand over there an’ count up to three. Then holler: ‘Fire!’ an’ we’ll turn an’ start shootin’. The rest of you c’n be judge if that’s fair.”
“Too damned fair,” said Kilduff. “I say: String him up an’ dri
ll the skunk full of holes.”
Without a word Buck turned on his heel.
“One moment,” said Haines.
“He ain’t your meat, Lee,” said Silent. “Jest keep your hand out of this.”
“I only wish to ask him a question,” said Haines. He turned to Buck: “Do you mean to say that after Barry’s wolf cut up your arm, you’ve been giving Whistling Dan a shelter from the law—and from us?”
“I give him a place to stay because he was damned near death,” said Buck. “An’ there’s one thing you’ll answer for in hell, Haines, an’ that’s ridin’ off an’ leavin’ the man that got you out of Elkhead. He was bleedin’ to death.”
“Shot?” said Haines, changing colour.
Silent broke in: “Buck, go take your place and say your prayers.”
“Stay where you are!” commanded Haines. “And the girl?”
“He was lyin’ sick in bed, ravin’ about ‘Delilah’ an’ ‘Kate.’ So I come an’ got the girl.”
Haines dropped his head.
“An’ when he was lyin’ there,” said Silent fiercely, “you could of made an’ end of him without half liftin’ your hand, an’ you didn’t.”
“Silent,” said Haines, “if you want to talk, speak to me.”
“What in hell do you mean, Lee?”
“You can’t get at Buck except through me.”
“Because that devil Barry got a bullet for your sake are you goin’ to—”
“I’ve lived a rotten life,” said Haines.
“An’ I suppose you think this is a pretty good way of dyin’?” sneered Silent.
“I have more cause to fight for Barry than Buck has,” said Haines.
“Lee, we’ve been pals too long.”
“Silent, I’ve hated you like a snake ever since I met you. But outlaws can’t choose their company.”
His tawny head rose. He stared haughtily around the circle of lowering faces.
“By God,” said Silent, white with passion, “I’m beginnin’ to think you do hate me! Git down there an’ take your place. You’re first an’ Daniels comes next. Kilduff, you c’n count!”
He stalked to the end of the room. Haines lingered one moment.
“Buck,” he said, “there’s one chance in ten thousand that I’ll make this draw the quickest of the two. If I don’t, you may live through it. Tell Kate—”
“Haines, git to your mark, or I’ll start shootin’!”
Haines turned and took his place. The others drew back along the walls of the room. Kilduff took the lamp from the table and held it high above his head. Even then the light was dim and uncertain and the draughts set the flame wavering so that the place was shaken with shadows. The moon sent a feeble shaft of light through the window.
“One!” said Kilduff.
The shoulders of Haines and Silent hunched slightly.
“Two!” said Kilduff.
“God,” whispered someone.
“Three. Fire!”
They whirled, their guns exploding at almost the same instant, and Silent lunged for the floor, firing twice as he fell. Haines’s second shot split the wall behind Silent. If the outlaw chief had remained standing the bullet would have passed through his head. But as Silent fired the third time the revolver dropped clattering from the hand of Haines. Buck caught him as he toppled inertly forward, coughing blood.
Silent was on his feet instantly.
“Stand back!” he roared to his men, who crowded about the fallen long rider. “Stand back in your places. I ain’t finished. I’m jest started. Buck, take your place!”
“Boys!” pleaded Buck, “he’s not dead, but he’ll bleed to death unless—”
“Damn him, let him bleed. Stand up, Buck, or by God I’ll shoot you while you kneel there!”
“Shoot and be damned!”
He tore off his shirt and ripped away a long strip for a bandage.
The revolver poised in Silent’s hand.
“Buck, I’m warnin’ you for the last time!”
“Fellers, it’s murder an’ damnation for all if you let Haines die this way!” cried Buck.
The shining barrel of the revolver dropped to a level.
“I’ve given you a man’s chance,” said Silent, “an’ now you’ll have the chance of—”
The door at the side of the room jerked open and a revolver cracked. The lamp shivered to a thousand pieces in the hands of Bill Kilduff. All the room was reduced to a place of formless shadow, dimly lighted by the shaft of moonlight. The voice of Jim Silent, strangely changed and sharpened from his usual bass roar, shrilled over the sudden tumult: “Each man for himself! It’s Whistling Dan!”
Terry Jordan and Bill Kilduff rushed at the dim figure, crouched to the floor. Their guns spat fire, but they merely lighted the way to their own destruction. Twice Dan’s revolver spoke, and they dropped, yelling. Pandemonium fell on the room.
The long riders raced here and there, the revolvers coughing fire. For an instant Hal Purvis stood framed against the pallid moonshine at the window. He stiffened and pointed an arm toward the door.
“The werewolf,” he screamed.
As if in answer to the call, Black Bart raced across the room. Twice the revolver sounded from the hand of Purvis. Then a shadow leaped from the floor. There was a flash of white teeth, and Purvis lurched to one side and dropped, screaming terribly. The door banged. Suddenly there was silence. The clatter of a galloping horse outside drew swiftly away.
“Dan!”
“Here!”
“Thank God!”
“Buck, one got away! If it was Silent—Here! Bring some matches.”
Someone was dragging himself towards the door in a hopeless effort to escape. Several others groaned.
“You, there!” called Buck. “Stay where you are!”
The man who struggled towards the door flattened himself against the floor, moaning pitifully.
“Quick,” said Dan, “light a match. Morris’s posse is at my heels. No time. If Silent escaped—”
A match flared in the hands of Buck.
“Who’s that? Haines!”
“Let him alone, Dan! I’ll tell you why later. There’s Jordan and Kilduff. That one by the door is Rhinehart.”
They ran from one to the other, greeted by groans and deep curses.
“Who’s that beneath the window?”
“Too small for Silent. It’s Purvis, and he’s dead!”
“Bart got him!”
“No! It was fear that killed him. Look at his face!”
“Bart, go out to Satan!”
The wolf trotted from the room.
“My God, Buck, I’ve done all this for nothin’! It was Silent that got away!”
“What’s that?”
Over the groans of the wounded came the sound of running horses, not one, but many, then a call: “Close in! Close in!”
“The posse!” said Dan.
As he jerked open the door a bullet smashed the wood above his head. Three horsemen were closing around Satan and Black Bart. He leaped back into the room.
“They’ve got Satan, Buck. We’ve got to try it on foot. Go through the window.”
“They’ve got nothing on me. I’ll stick with Haines.”
Dan jumped through the window, and raced to the shelter of a big rock. He had hardly dropped behind it when four horsemen galloped around the corner of the house.
“Johnson and Sullivan,” ordered the voice of Monte sharply, “watch the window. They’re lying low inside, but we’ve got Barry’s horse and wolf. Now we’ll get him.”
“Come out or we’ll burn the house down!” thundered a voice from the other side.
“We surrender!” called Buck within.
A cheer came from the posse. Sullivan and Johnson ran for the window they had been told to guard. The door on the other side of the house slammed open.
“It’s a slaughter house!” cried one of the posse.
Dan left the sheltering rock and r
aced around the house, keeping a safe distance, and dodging from rock to rock. He saw Satan and Black Bart guarded by two men with revolvers in their hands. He might have shot them down, but the distance was too great for accurate gun-play. He whistled shrilly. The two guards wheeled towards him, and as they did so, Black Bart, leaping, caught one by the shoulder, whirling him around and around with the force of the spring. The other fired at Satan, who raced off towards the sound of the whistle. It was an easy shot, but in the utter surprise of the instant the bullet went wide. Before he could fire again Satan was coming to a halt beside Dan.
“Help!” yelled the cattleman. “Whistling Dan!”
The other guard opened fire wildly. Three men ran from the house. All they saw was a black shadow which melted instantly into the night.
CHAPTER XXXVI
FEAR
Into the dark he rode. Somewhere in the mountains was Silent, and now alone. In Dan’s mouth the old salt taste of his own blood was unforgotten.
It was a wild chase. He had only the faintest clues to guide him, yet he managed to keep close on the trail of the great outlaw. After several days he rode across a tall red-roan stallion, a mere wreck of a horse with lean sides and pendant head and glazed eye. It was a long moment before Dan recognized Silent’s peerless mount, Red Pete. The outlaw had changed his exhausted horse for a common pony. The end of the long trail must be near.
The whole range followed that chase with breathless interest. It was like the race of Hector and Achilles around the walls of Troy. And when they met there would be a duel of giants. Twice Whistling Dan was sighted. Once Jim Silent fought a running duel with a posse fresh from Elkhead. The man hunters were alert, but it was their secret hope that the two famous outlaws would destroy each other, but how the wild chase would end no one could know. At last Buck Daniels rode to tell Kate Cumberland strange news.
When he stumbled into the ranch house, Kate and her father rose, white-faced. There was an expression of waiting terror in their eyes.
“Buck!” cried Joe.
“Hush! Dad,” said Kate. “It hasn’t come yet! Buck, what has happened?”
“The end of the world has come for Dan,” he said. “That devil Silent—”
