CHAPTER XXIX
TOLL
None of the Moonstone boys had supposed that Overland Red was hit. Herode joyfully and even began a poem to the occasion. Williams was firstto notice that Overland's speech was growing thick and that his freehand clasped the saddle-horn.
The others, riding a little to the rear, burst suddenly into boisterouslaughter. "What you think, Brand?" called Pars Long. "Bud's jest beencountin' his fingers and he says there is one missin'. He ain't sureyet, but he's countin' hard. He has to skip when he comes to number oneon his right mitt. Says he can't get started to count, that way."
"Some lucky it ain't his head," replied Williams.
"His head? Bud would never miss that. But his pore little ole finger,layin' calm and cold back there. A very sad business, brethren."
"I paid twelve sweaty plunks for her in Los and look at her!" cried ParsLong, doffing his sombrero. The high crown was literally shot to pieces."I guess I am some wise guy. You fellas kidded me about sportin' anextra high lid. Come on, Chico, they're laughin' at us!"
"If they'd 'a' shot the crown off clean down to your ears, you'd nevernoticed it," grumbled Billy Dime.
"Mebby I am a flat-headed chicken, Billy, but I got both wings yet,"retorted Long.
Billy Dime looked down at the blood-soaked sleeve of his right arm. "Thefella that did it is eatin' grass now," he muttered.
"Now, what's the matter with Miguel? Discovered any bullets nestin' inyour manly buzzum, Miguel?"
"I think no. But I lose something," replied Miguel, smiling.
"That so?"
"I did have the tobacco and papers here," he said, and he put his handon his chest. "Now I look and the pocket and some of the shirt is notthere--and my tobacco is gone, and the little papers."
"Is that all? Sad. I thought you'd lost a railroad or a steamship orsomething. Cheer up! Things might be better."
"I think I like to smoke," said Miguel, quite seriously. "I will rideback and get some tobacco and some more papers."
"That ain't all you'll get. Here, smoke up. You look fine in thatpeek-a-boo shirt. Never knowed you had such a good shape. What sizegloves do you wear, pet?" And Pars Long passed tobacco and papers toMiguel, who rolled a cigarette and smoked contentedly.
"Billy, you look sick," said Bud Light.
"Oh, no! I want to go to a dance, right away. Whoa!"
They drew rein. Williams, dismounting, was bending over his companionOverland, who had suddenly slipped from the saddle.
"Where's he punctured?" queried Bud Light.
Williams examined the prostrate man. "Kind of low down, and in the side.'T ain't bad, but it's bad enough. Got any whiskey?"
"You bet! I got a pocket-gun here. Swiped it in the saloon." And ParsLong handed a flask to Williams.
The riders, standing round the fallen man, watched Williams as he boundup the wound, which was bleeding slowly. The whiskey partially revivedOverland. He managed finally to cling to the saddle, supported byWilliams.
"She's thirty hot miles to camp. Red won't last out," said Long.
"I say he does," said Bud Light. "Did you see them puckers in his hide?I counted seven. He ain't made to be stopped by a gun."
"Mebby he ain't stopped, but he's slowed up considerable. Did you seethe two guys he got? Saunders was pretty nigh cut in two and the otherone by the bar had four holes in him. I counted 'em, to quit thinkin' ofmy arm. Them automatics is fierce!"
"He would never 'a' got out if he'd been packin' a regular old six-gun,"said Bud Light. "_Both_ them guys were throwin' lead at him."
"How do you know? You wasn't there."
"Easy. He went in to get Saunders. He gets him. The other one takes ahand. He got _him_. _We_ didn't do any shootin' inside."
"Guess that's right. But how about the barkeep?"
"Oh, he just got in the way. He was drilled between the lamps. In a mixlike that who's goin' to take time to draw fine?"
"Did you see Brand lift the Gophertown guy out of his saddle--the onethat was shootin' at Red in front of the joint? Brand threw a forty-fiveinto him, and comin' on the jump, too. The Gopher humped up like he'dbeen horned by the Santa Fe Limited. Now what's the dope?"
Overland Red had again fallen from his horse. Williams beckoned to Long."Take the Yuma colt, Pars, and fan it for the canon. Send the doc back,and you stay with that young Winthrop and look after Collie. Your hossis quieter for Red, anyway. Tell the doc to bring his tools along. Ireckon we'll camp over there near the hills till to-morrow."
"Who was it got me?" questioned Overland as he was revived a secondtime.
"I don't know," replied Williams. "The only distinguishin' brand on himwas one I put there. It ain't worryin' him now."
"Like old times," said Overland, trying to smile.
"Like old times," echoed Williams.
"I guess it was Parks," murmured Overland. "He had plenty of chance. Iwasn't after him."
* * * * *
Slowly the group of horsemen rode across the desert. The afternoon sunmade queer shadows of them and their mounts. Billy Dime rode bentforward. His face was white and beaded with sweat. Overland, on Long'spony, was supported by Miguel and Brand Williams. Pars Long haddisappeared in the shadows of the range.
Billy Dime's eyes grew strangely bright. He laughed, gazing at theforeman's back. "The whole damn fuss was wrong, _wrong_, I tell you! Wehad no _business_ shootin' up that town."
"But it was considerable pleasure," said Bud Light. "You're off yourbean, Billy. I guess you forget what they did to Collie."
Billy Dime leered. The fever from his wound was working through hisblood. "Don't pertend to me, Bud Light, that you come on this littlepasear on account of _Collie_. It was _her_ eyes that said to go. Youknow that. She never said words, but her _eyes_ said to go--and to kill!Do you get that? That's what a woman can do to a man, without sayin' aword. And what did Collie ever do for me? Look at that arm. _Look_ atit! What did Collie ever do for me to get shot up this way?" And BillyDime began to weep. "I killed two of 'em--two of 'em. I saw 'em drop. Iwas drawin' fine--_fine_, I tell you, and I couldn't miss."
Bud Light rode forward to Williams. "Billy's gone off his crust. He'sravin' back there, Brand."
Williams drew Long's flask from his saddle-pocket. "Give him a shot ofthis. Take some yourself. Miguel and I don't need any. Hold on--I'llgive Red a shot first. When it gets to workin', you yip and ride for thehills. We'll all ride--_ride_, you understand? It'll be a dry camp, anda hard flash, but we'll make it."