The first thing that occurred when a man put his head out
was the hum of a bullet, and in two cases the experimenters lost all
need of escape.
The volley firing had the desired effect, and at dusk there remained
only one cabin from which came opposition. Such a fire was
concentrated on it that before an hour had passed the door fell in and
the firing ceased. There was a rush from the side, and the Barred
Horseshoe men who swarmed through the cabins emerged without firing a
shot. The organization that had stirred up the Pecos Valley ranches
had ceased to exist.
CHAPTER XXII
The Showdown
A fire burned briskly in front of Mr. Trendley's cabin that night
and several punchers sat around it occupied in various ways. Two men
leaned against the wall and sang softly of the joys of the trail and
the range. One of them, Lefty Allen, of the O-Bar-O, sang in his sweet
tenor, and other men gradually strolled up and seated themselves on
the ground, where the fitful gleam of responsive pipes and cigarettes
showed like fireflies. The songs followed one after another, first a
lover's plea in soft Spanish and then a rollicking tale of the cow-
towns and men. Supper had long since been enjoyed and all felt that
life was, indeed, well worth living.
A shadow loomed against the cabin wall and a procession slowly made
its way toward the open door.
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