“A TIMBER WOLF IN HIS OWN COUNTRY”
WHEN The Orphan said good-by to Bill he sat in his for a minute the stage and how it was that he had the to avoid a with the in the presence of the women. Then Helen’s came to him and he at the idea of peace when he would have to the sundown. The of the sun on his him from his and he and along the to where he that a tiny, blood-stained in the and sand. Soon he it and, over in the saddle, it up and his position, his at the effort. Unfolding it he the “H” done in in one and as he put it in his pocket where he his ammunition.
126“Peace and in one pocket,” he muttered, at his cartridges’ new and companion.
Then he a Winchester near a brave, and he it as he had the handkerchief. Describing an he up another, it after he had the magazine, for was what he wanted. Two Winchesters were all right, but three were too many. As he it from him he through a opening in the and saw the approach the stage. Then he to where his lay, it up and to the south for the Cimarron Trail. When screened by the he pushed on with the which his maintain for hours, and which ate up in an manner. He had time in going for his and the handkerchief, and every minute was precious. His now to the problem of how either to or his pursuers, and the Winchesters his forethought, for up to six hundred yards they were not a to face. If he the in the he was that they would take up his 127at dawn, and what he had would be at the of the of his horse. While he would ten miles an hour through the night, their mounts, by a night’s rest, might cut his the of the next day.
One of the Winchesters from its and started to toward the ground. He it and it secure, at the number of he had had and the past three weeks.
“Funny how this country has been Winchesters lately,” he mused. “There was the five I got by the big bowlder, which I playing with that d––d Cross Bar-8 gang, and here’s two more, and I just left three what I didn’t want. Well, they’re for stopping a rush, and I that’s what I’m up against this time. If I can a likely spot for a dark I may stop that in bang-up style, d––n them.”
Half an hour later he of a moving of to the of him and his him to make them out.
“’Paches!” he exclaimed, and then he and on his way toward them, taking 128care to keep himself screened from their by and chaparrals. His had been of danger, but now he laughed at the cards had put in his hand, for he would use the Indians to great later on.
He them and their number to be twenty-two, which for the five who had the stage coach. The were and he laughed joyously, recklessly: “All is in love and war,” he savagely.
Before the Indians had come upon the he had been alone to five angry and men, and he had every to were at least fighters. Had the positions been they would not have to make use of any to save themselves–and here were two contingents, of which would take his life at the opportunity. He no at the game he was about to play; on the other hand, it pleased him to know that he was in to his enemies. They wanted blood, and they should have it. If they too much, well and good–that was their lookout. And no less was the knowledge that he had sent them north and that now he make use of 129them. He what they had been doing for the last three and why they were still in that part of the country, but he did not care, for they were where he wanted them to be.
“Twenty-two Apaches on the against five cow-wrastlers!” he exulted. “More than four to one, and just to square on somebody! That Cross Bar-8 will have something to about d––n soon! And I they don’t and me.”
He stopped and waited when he had a screened position from where he look over his trail, and he had not long to wait, for soon he saw five hard in his direction. Another look to the him that the party was now slowly toward him, not of his presence, and they would arrive at his at about the same time the would come up. Neither the Indians the of the of the other, while The Orphan see them both. He at the to the west of him and saw that it was thin, being a link the two larger chaparrals.
130“I don’t know how you are on the jump, bronch,” he said to his mount, “but I you can through that, all right.”
The from his the northern chaparral, and as they did so he his into his and at the screen and, going over and through it, as the party and the met. The and were as music to his ears, and he in and his hand at the as he his escape. The had won.
