"Well, gentlemen," he said. "I reckon you’s all aware that you are buttin’ up ag’in law and order," he began.
"Law is gettin’ kind of tender-hearted," replied one of the newcomers. "We want to see justice done."
"I don’t seem to know your face," said the sheriff.
"Oh! We ’re mostly from outside your jurisdiction," was the reply. "We jest came along up from the Half-Way House to see that justice is done in this yere matter."
"I don’t know ’em," said the sheriff to Apache Kid.
"That’s not their fault," said Apache Kid. "I know two of them by head-mark. A fat lot they care for seeing justice done. It’s revenge they want on the loss of Farrell."
"What about Farrell?" said the sheriff. "You did n’t tell me."
"He was one of the seven I mentioned," said Apache Kid. "But where, might I ask, Sheriff, do you intend to make your fire zone?" And he nodded his head toward the seven who were walking their horses a trifle nearer yet.
"Yes," said the sheriff, "they do creep up some. Dern, if we could only pow-wow with ’em till Slim gets back with the posse and the waggon."
This was the first hint of what business Slim had been despatched upon, but that is by the way. The sheriff apparently was not to be permitted a "pow-wow" to kill the time.
"See here," cried the spokesman of the party, "jest you throw up your hands, the lot of you or——"
"Now, gentlemen," said the sheriff, "I ’m a patient man. If it was n’t for the responsible position I holds, I would n’t argue one little bit with you, but you know I ’m elected kind o’ more to save life than to destroy it."
"That’s just their objection," said he, softly.
"Pshaw!" said the sheriff. "That was a right poor cyard I played; but it’s tabled now and can’t be lifted. Get back there! By Jimminy! if you press any closer, we fire on you."
There was a quick word among the seven men and then they swooped on us. I tell you it was a sudden business that. Down went the sheriff on his knee. And next moment the now familiar smell of powder was in my nostrils. Two of the seven fell and their charge broke and they swept round us to left and right.
"Anybody hit here?" said the sheriff. "Nobody! Guess they don’t want to hit you, Apache Kid."
"I ’m getting used to that treatment," said Apache Kid. "It ’s not the first time I ’ve pressed a trigger on seven men who wanted my life—rather than my death," he ended grimly.