interposed quickly。
〃Well； he might；〃 argued Pink。 〃If I was making a quick get…away； and my
horse was about played outlike his was apt t' beI'd sure round up the
first bunch I seen； and catch me a fresh oneif I was a horse…thief。 I'll
bet yuh〃
The sheriff had put down his cup of coffee。 〃Is there any place where a man
could corral a bunch on the quiet？〃 he asked crisply。 It was evident that
Pink's theory had impressed him。
〃Yes； there is。 There's an old corral up at the fordDrowning Ford； they
call itthat I'd use； if it was me。 It was an old line camp； and there's a
cabin。 It's down on the flat by the creek； and it's as God…forsaken a place
as a man'd want t' hide in； or t' change mounts。〃 Pink hitched up his
chapbelt and looked across at Rowdy。 He was aching for a sight of Harry
Conroy in handcuffs； and he was certain that Rowdy felt the same。 〃If it was
me；〃 he added speculatively； 〃and I thought I was far enough in the lead；
I'd stop there till morning。〃
〃How far is it from here？〃 demanded the sheriff； standing up。
Pink told him he guessed it was five miles。 Whereupon the sheriff announced
his intention of going up there at once； and Pink hinted rather strongly
that he would like to go with them。 The sheriff did not know Pink； he looked
down at his slimness and at the yellow fringe of curls showing under his hat
brim； at his pink cheeks and dimples and girlish hands； and threw back his
head in a loud ha！ ha！
Pink asked him politely； but rather stiffly； what there was funny about it。
The sheriff laughed louder and longer； then； being the sort of man who likes
a joke now and then； even in the way of business； he solemnly deputized
Pink； and patted him on the shoulder and told him gravely that they couldn't
possibly do without him。
It looked for a minute as if Pink were going at him with his fistsbut he
didn't。 He reflected that one must not offer violence to an officer of the
law； and that； being made a deputy； he would have to go； anyway； so he
gritted his teeth and buckled on his gun； and went along sulkily。
They rode silently； for the most part； and swiftly。
Even in the dusk they could see where a band of horses had been driven at a
gallop along the creek bank。 When they neared the place it was dark。 Pink
pulled up and spoke for the first time since leaving the tent。
〃We better tie up our horses here and walk；〃 he said； quite unconscious of
the fact that he was usurping the leadership； and thinking only of their
quest。
But the sheriff was old at the business； and not too jealous of his
position。 He signed to his deputy proper； and they dismounted。
When they started on； Pink was ahead。 The sheriff observed that Pink's gun
still swung in its scabbard at his hip； and he grinnedbut that was because
he didn't know Pink。 That the gun swung at his hip would have been quite
enough for any one who did know him； it didn't take Pink all day to get into
action
Ten rods from the corral； which they could distinguish as a black blotch in
the sparse willow growth； Pink turned and stopped them。 〃I know the layout
here；〃 he whispered。 〃I'll just sneak ahead and rubber around。 You Rubes
sound like the beginning of a stampede； in this brush。〃
The sheriff had never before been called a Rubeto his face； at least。 The
audacity took his breath； and when he opened his mouth for scathing speech；
Pink was not there。 He had slipped away； like a slim； elusive shadow； and
the sheriff did not even know the exact direction of his going。 There was
nothing for it but to wait。
In five minutes Pink appeared with a silent suddenness that startled them
more than they would like to own。
〃He's somewheres around；〃 he announced； in a murmur that would not carry ten
feet。 〃He's got a horse in the corral； and； from the sound； he's got him all
saddled； and the gate's tied shut with a rope。〃
〃How d'yuh know？〃 grunted the sheriff crossly。
〃Felt of it； yuh chump。 He's turned the bunch loose and kept up a fresh one；
like I said he would。 It's blame dark； but I could see the horsea big
white devil。 It's him yuh hear makin' all that racket。 If he gits away
now〃
〃Well； we didn't come for a chin…whackin' bee；〃 snapped the sheriff。 〃I come
out here t' git him。〃
Pink gritted his teeth again； and wished the sheriff was just a man； so he
could lick him。 He led them forward without a word； thinking that Rowdy
wanted Harry Conroy captured。
The sheriff circled warily the corral； peered through the rails at the great
white horse that ran here and there； whinnying occasionally for the band；
and heard the creak of leather and the rattle of the bit。 Pink was right；
the horse was saddled； ready for immediate flight。
〃Maybe he's in the cabin；〃 he whispered； coming up where Pink stood
listening tensely at all the little night sounds。 Pink turned and crept
silently to the right； keeping in the deepest shade； while the others
followed willingly。 They were beginning to see the great advantage of having
Pink along； even if he had called them Rubes。
The cabin door yawned wide open； and creaked weirdly as the light wind moved
it； the interior was black and silentsuspiciously silent； in the opinion
of the sheriff。 He waited for some time before venturing in； fearing an
ambush。 Then he caught the flicker of a shielded match； called out to Conroy
to surrender； and leveled his gun at the place。
There was no answer but the faint shuffle of stealthy feet on the board
floor。 The sheriff called another warning； cocked his gunand came near
shooting Pink； who walked composedly out of the door into the sheriff's
astonished face。 The sheriff had been sure that Pink was just behind him。
〃What the hell 〃 began the sheriff explosively。
〃He ain't here；〃 said Pink simply。 〃I crawled in the window and hunted the
place over。〃
The sheriff glared at him dumbly； he could not reconcile Pink's daredevil
behavior with Pink's innocent； girlish appearance。
〃I tell yuh the corral's what we want t' keep cases on；〃 Pink added
insistently。 〃He's sure somewheres aroundI'd gamble on it。 He saddled that
horse t' git away on。 That horse is sure the key t' this situation；
old…timer。 If you fellows'll keep cases on the gate； I'll cover the rear。〃
He made his way quietly to the back of the corral； inwardly much amused at
the tractability of the sheriff； who took his deputy obediently to watch the
gate。
Pink squatted comfortably in the shade of a willow and wished he dared
indulge in a cigarette； and wondered what scheme Harry was trying to play。
Fifty feet away the big white horse still circled round and round； rattling
his bridle impatiently and shaking the saddle in an occasional access of
rage； and whinnying lonesomely out into the gloom。
So they waited and waited； and peered into the shadows； and listened to the
trampling horse fretting for freedom and his mates。
The cook had just called breakfast when Pink dashed up to the tent； flung
himself from his horse； and confronted Rowdya hollow…eyed； haggard Rowdy
who had not slept all night； and whose eyes questioned anxiously。
〃Well；〃 Rowdy said； with what passed for composure； 〃did you get him？〃
Pink leaned against his horse； with one hand reaching up and gripping
tightly the horn of the saddle。 His cheeks held not a trace of color； and
his eyes were full of a great horror。
〃They're bringin' him t' camp；〃 he answered huskily。 〃We found a horsea
big white horse they call the Fern Outlaw〃the Silent One started and came
closer； listening intently； evidently he knew the horse〃saddled in the
corral； and the gate tied shut。 We dubbed around a while； but we didn't
findHarry。 So we camped down by the corral and waited。 We set there all
nightand the horse faunching around inside something fierce。 Whenit
come daybreakI seen somethingby the fence； inside。 It wasHarry。〃 Pink
shivered and moistened his dry lips。 〃That Fern Outlawsome uh the boys
knowis a devil t' mount。 He'd got Harry downhell； Rowdy！ itit was
sureawful。 He'd been there all nightand that horse stomping。 〃
〃Shut up！〃 Rowdy turned all at once deathly sick。 He had once seen a man who
had been trampled by a maddened； man…killing horse。 It had not been a pretty
sight。 He sat down weakly and covered his face with his shaking hands。
The others stood around horrified； muttering disjointed； shocked sentences。
Pink lifted his head from where it had fallen upon his arm。 〃One thing；
RowdyI done。 You can tell Jessie。 I shot that horse。〃
Rowdy dropped his hands and stood up。 Yes； he must tell Jessie。
〃You'll have to take the herd on；〃 he told Pink in his masterful way。 〃I'll
catch you to…morrow some time。 I've got to go back and tell Jessie。 You know
the trail I was going to takestraight across to Wild Horse Lake。 From
there you strike across to North Forkand if I don't overtake you on the
way； I'll hit camp some time in the night。 It's all plain sailing。〃
CHAPTER 13
Rowdy Finds Happiness。
Miss Conroy was rather listlessly endeavoring to persuade the First Reader
class that 〃catch〃 should not be pronounced 〃ketch；〃 when she saw Rowdy ride
past the window。 Intuition of something amiss sent her to the door before he
reached i