People were running now from the street, the stores, the houses. Old men, cowboys, clerks, boys, ranchers came on the trot. The crowd grew. The increasing clamor began to attract women as well as men. A group of girls ran up, then hung back in fright and pity.
The presence of cowboys made a difference. They split up the crowd, got to Duane, and lay hold of him with rough, businesslike hands. One of them lifted his fists and roared at the frenzied mob to fall back, to stop the racket. He beat them back into a circle; but it was some little time before the hubbub quieted down so a voice could be heard.
“Shut up, will you-all?” he was yelling. “Give us a chance to hear somethin'. Easy now--soho. There ain't nobody goin' to be hurt. Thet's right; everybody quiet now. Let's see what's come off.”
This cowboy, evidently one of authority, or at least one of strong personality, turned to the gaunt man, who still waved Duane's gun.
“Abe, put the gun down,” he said. “It might go off. Here, give it to me. Now, what's wrong? Who's this roped gent, an' what's he done?”
The gaunt fellow, who appeared now about to collapse, lifted a shaking hand and pointed.
“Thet thar feller--he's Buck Duane!” he panted.
An angry murmur ran through the surrounding crowd.
“The rope! The rope! Throw it over a branch! String him up!” cried an excited villager.
“Abe, how do you know this fellow is Buck Duane?” he asked, sharply.
“Why--he said so,” replied the man called Abe.
“What!” came the exclamation, incredulously.
“It's a tarnal fact,” panted Abe, waving his hands importantly. He was an old man and appeared to be carried away with the significance of his deed. “He like to rid' his hoss right over us-all. Then he jumped off, says he was Buck Duane, an' he wanted to see Jeff Aiken bad.”
This speech caused a second commotion as noisy though not so enduring as the first. When the cowboy, assisted by a couple of his mates, had restored order again some one had slipped the noose-end of Duane's rope over his head.
“Up with him!” screeched a wild-eyed youth.
The mob surged closer was shoved back by the cowboys.
“Abe, if you ain't drunk or crazy tell thet over,” ordered Abe's interlocutor.
With some show of resentment and more of dignity Abe reiterated his former statement.