now."
"Wasn't you an army officer?"
"Yes. Can't an officer go wrong?"
"Soft stuff. Don't feed it to me. I told you too much anyway. I wasbabblin' drunk. I'm drunk now, but I got sense. D'you think I'll runchances of sittin' in State's Prison for the next ten years and leaveEve out here alone? No. I gotta shoot you, Smith. And I'm a-going todo it. G'wan and say what you want ... if you think there's some kindo' god you can square before you croak."
"If you go to the chair for murder, what good will it do Eve?" askedSmith. His lips were crackling dry; he moistened them.
"Sink holes don't talk," said Clinch. "G'wan and square yourself, ifyou're the church kind."
"Clinch," said Smith unsteadily, "if you kill me now you're as good asdead yourself. Quintana is here."
"Say, don't hand me that," retorted Clinch. "Do you square yourself orno?"
"I tell you Quintana's gang were at the dance to-night -- Picquet,Salzar, Georgiades, Sard, Beck, Jose Sanchez -- the one who looks like aFrench priest. Maybe he had a beard when you saw him in that cafewash-room----"
"What!" shouted Clinch in sudden fury. "What yeh talkin' about, youpoor dumb dingo! Yeh fixin' to scare me? What do _you_ know aboutQuintana? Are you one of Quintana's gang, too? Is that what you're upto, hidin' out at Star Pond. Come on, out with it! I'll have it allout of you now, Hal Smith, before I plug you----"
He came lurching forward, swinging his heavy pistol as though he meantto brain his victim, but he halted after the first step or two and stoodthere, a shadowy bulk, growling, enraged, undecided.
And, as Smith looked at him, two shadows detached themselves from thetrees behind Clinch -- silently -- silently glided behind -- struck inutter silence.
Down crashed Clinch, black-jacked, his face in the ooze. His pistolflew from his hand, struck Smith's leg; and Smith had it at the sameinstance and turned it like lightning on the murderous shadows.
"Hands up! Quick!" he cried, at bay now, and his back to the sink-hole.
Pistol levelled, he bent one knee, pushed Clinch over on his back, lestthe ooze suffocate him.
"Now," he said coolly, "what do you bums want out of Mike Clinch?"
"Who are you?" came a sullen voice. "This is none o' your bloodybusiness. We want Clinch, not you."
"What do you want of Clinch?"
"Take your gun off us!"
"Answer, or I'll let go at you. What do you want of Clinch?"
"Money. What do you think?"
"You're here to stick up Clinch?" enquired Smith.
"Yes. What's that to you?"
"What has Clinch done to you?"
"He stuck _us_ up, that's what! Now, are you going to keep out ofthis?"
"No."
"We ain't going to hurt Clinch."
"You bet you're not. Where's the rest of your gang?"
"What gang?"
"Quintana's," said Smith, laughing. A wild exhilaration possessed him.His flanks and rear were protected by the sink-hole. He had Quintana'sgang -- two of them -- over his pistol.
"Turn your backs and sit down," he said. As the shadowy formshesitated, he picked up a stick and hurled it at them. They sat downhastily, hands up, backs toward him.
"You'll both die where you sit," remarked Smith, "if you yell for help."
Clinch sighed heavily, stirred, groped on the damp leaves with hishands.
"I say," began the voice which Smith identified as Harry Beck's, "ifyou'll come in with us on this it will pay you, young man."
"No," drawled Smith, "I'll go it alone."
"It can't be done, old dear. You'll see if you try it on."
"Who'll stop me? Quintana?"
"Come," urged Beck, "and be a good pal. You can't manage it alone.We've got all night to make Clinch talk. I now how, too. You'll getyour share----"
"Oh, stow it," said Smith, watching Clinch, who was reviving. He sat uppresently, and put both hands over his head. Smith touched him silentlyon the shoulder and he turned his heavy, square head in a dazed way.Blood striped his visage. He gazed dully at Smith for a little while,then, seeming to recollect, the old glare began to light his pale eyes.
The next instant, however, Beck spoke again, and Clinch turned inastonishment and saw the two figures sitting there with backs towardSmith and hands up.
Clinch stared at the squatting forms, then slowly moved his head andlooked at Smith and his levelled pistol.
"We know how to make a man squeal," said Harry Beck suddenly. "He'lltalk. We can make Clinch talk, no fear! Leave it to us, old pal. Areyou with us?" He started to look around over his shoulder and Smithhurled another stick and hit him in the face.
"Quiet there, Harry," he said. "What's my share if I go in with you?"
"One sixth, same's we all get."
"What's it worth?" asked Smith, with a motion of caution toward Clinch.
"If I say a million you'll tell me I lie. But it's nearer three -- oryou can have my share. Is it a go?"
"You'll not hurt Clinch when he comes to?"
"We'll make him talk, that's all. It may hurt him some."
"You won't kill him?"
"I swear by God----"
"Wait! Isn't it better to shoot him after he squeals? Here's a lovelysink-hole handy."
"Right-o! We'll make him talk first and then shove him in. Are youwith us?"
"If you turn your head I'll blow the face off you, Harry," said Smith,cautioning Clinch to silence with a gesture.
"All right. Only you better make up your mind. That cove is likely towake up now any time," grumbled Beck.
Clinch looked at Smith. The latter smiled, leaned over, and whispered:
"Can you walk all right?"
Clinch nodded.
"Well, we better beat it. Quintana's whole gang is in these woods,somewhere, hunting for you, and they might stumble on us here, at anymoment." And, to the two men in front: "Lie down flat on your faces.Don't stir; don't speak; or it's you for the sink-hole. ... Lie down, Itell you! That's it. Don't move till I tell you to."
Clinch got up from where he was sitting, cast one murderous glance atthe prostrate forms, then followed Smith, noiselessly, over the stretchof sphagnum moss.
* * * * *
When they reached the house they saw Eve standing on the steps in hernight-dress and bare feet, holding a lantern.
"Daddy," she whimpered, "I was frightened. I didn't know where you hadgone----"
Clinch put his arm around her, turned his bloody face and looked atSmith.
"It's _this,_" he said, "that I ain't forgetting, young fella. What youdone for me you done for _her._
"I gotta live to make a lady of her. That's why," he added thickly,"I'm much obliged to you, Hal Smith. ... Get to bed, girlie----"
"You're bleeding, dad?"
"Aw, a twig scratched me. I been in the woods with Hal. G'wan to bed."
He went to the sink and washed his face, dried it, kissed the girl, andgave her a gentle shove toward the stairs.
"Hal and I is sittin' up talkin' business," he remarked, bolting thedoor and all the shutters.
* * * * *
When the girl had gone, Clinch went to a closet and brought back twoWinchester rifles, two shot guns, and a box of ammunition.
"Goin' to see it out with me, Hal?"
"Sure," smiled Smith.
"Aw' right. Have a drink?"
"No."
"Aw' right. Where'll you set?"
"Anywhere."
"Aw' right. Set over there. They may try the back porch. I'll jestset here a spell, n'then I'll kind er mosey 'round. ... Plug the firstfella that tries a shutter, Hal."
"You bet."
Clinch came over and held out his hand.
"You said a face-full that time when you says to me, `Clinch,' you says,`Eve _is_ a lady.' ... I gotta fix her up. I gotta be alive to do it.... That's why I'm greatly obliged to yeh, Hal."
He took his rifle and walked s
lowly toward the pantry.
"You bet," he muttered, "she _is_ a lady, so help me God."
* * * * *
Episode Three
On Star Peak
* * * * *
I
Mike Clinch