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Shivering； they huddled near the fire。 The big red horse stamped and there was a momentary lull in the storm。
〃Tomorrow we will be safe。 I know the man on this ranch。 He is a hard man but a good man。〃
〃I hope。〃
〃He is 。。。 his name is Slaughter。〃
〃He has kill men。〃
〃Yes 。。。 when they needed it〃 He added fuel to the fire。 〃So have I。〃
〃Before this？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃How many？〃
〃Four 。。。 five； maybe。〃
They waited out a blast of wind。 Some rain whipped into the overhang and the fire hissed and spluttered。
〃You never tell me： Why you kill Bob Sutton？〃
Taking his time； he explained about Johnny Hendrix and the horses。 He told her of working through stampede and storm； through the dust of long cat…tie drives and the smell of burning hair around branding fires。 And then of their months of effort to catch； brand and tame the horses； of this struggle to bee something more than mere cowhands； to begin a business of their own。 Then he told of his return from Durango and of finding the body of his friend。
〃Jack Sutton；〃 she said； 〃that was like him。 And Mort Bayless； I think。 He is another。〃
Trace Jordan went to the pack rat's nest for fuel。 He dropped an armful near the fire and then walked around the fire to sit down。 But he stopped there； looking out into the morning。
Without their being aware of it the sky had grown lighter。 Outside the overhang the brush and trees bent stark and black before driving sheets of rain。 Water stood on the desert in scattered pools that reflected the vague light； pools like mirrors of steel under the lowering sky； gray and black with rain…weighted clouds。
All this Jordan saw。 All that and something more。 He saw also five rain…wet horses and five mounted men and all those men had rifles and all of them were looking at him。
So 。。。 this far they had e and this close … and all for nothing at all。
He stood very still； yet his mind reached swiftly forward。 As at all such times the minute seems to stand still in which each detail is impressed upon the mind。
He recognized the blocky man with the hard square face who would be Ben Hindeman。 The narrow features of old Jacob Lantz and there were others whom he had never known and probably would never know。 He saw their horses and three of those horses had belonged to him。
He saw them and he saw their guns and knew the chase was over。 He knew that his raincoat was open； that his guns were at his thighs； that he could kill one； two or even three men before they got him。
It could be done。 It had been done。 Mysterious Dave Mathers had killed five men in a gun battle in Dodge； modore Perry Owen had shot down four in Holbrook。
But Maria Cristina sat by the fire close to him and she might be hit or she would be left to the vengeance of those who did not fall。
〃Howdy； boys；〃 he spoke casually。 〃Kind of wet out there； ain't it？〃
At his voice； Maria Cristina looked up。 Her face stiffened with shock and she got to her knees。
The heavy man in the slicker studied Jordan through the rain。 It was no wonder； Hindeman thought； that it had taken so long。 Lantz was right； this man was a curly wolf 。。。 with his back to the wall。
Jacob Lantz sat a little apart。 He sat his saddle； looking at Jordan。
〃You killed Old Bob？〃 Hindeman made a statement； rather than asked a question。
〃He went for his gun。〃
〃But you killed him 。。。 why？〃
〃You know why。 He was riding a stolen horse。 Stolen from me。〃 He nodded his head to indicate their own horses。 〃That steeldust is mine； so's the sorrel。 And that dun answers to the name of Pet。〃
He looked at the horse。 〃Pet！〃 he spoke sharply。 The dun's head came up； ears pricked。
The riders sat silent。 Hindeman was unmoved but Joe Sutton had a guilty feeling。 No question about it； these horses had been stolen and from this man。 The feeling touched them all and made them uneasy； less sure of their ground。
〃Makes no difference now；〃 Hindeman said。 〃We're goin' to hang you。〃
〃Don't say we 。。。 there's three； maybe four of you aren't goin' to hang me。 Maybe none of you will。 Wait until the shootin's over。。。 plenty of time to talk about hangin'〃
Ben Hindeman studied the man and Ben was no fool。 They were five to one 。。。 unless the girl declared herself in and it was likely she would。 She had been quick enough to take a shot at Jack； that day。
Five to one。 They had their rifle muzzles down； for the discovery of the hiding place had been sheer accident。 They had only to lift their rifles but this man had only to draw； and Ben Hindeman knew any man who could beat Old Bob on an even break and who could outguess Jack Sutton would be fast and sure。
No question about it； somebody was going to die if shooting started。
〃You throw down your guns；〃 he said； 〃then the girl won't get hurt。〃
〃No！〃
Maria Cristma's voice laid across the morning like a whip。 〃Do not do it！ They will only kill you！ If you put down the guns； I will shoot！〃
Ben Hindeman sat stolidly on his horse in the hard falling rain。 For the first time in his life he was utterly at a stalemate。
Maria Cristina would shoot and she had a rifle。 They might kill her but Ben Hindeman could not see a woman killed。 Not like this。
He looked from the woman to the man； this lean fierce unbeatable man； his face haggard and unshaved； his back to the wall。。。 but ready。
And this woman who stood now； her feet apart； her body poised to move； her eyes wide and beautiful but dangerous。
He knew with a kind of sickness that men would die here and a woman。 And that never again would he ever look any man in the face without shame if she were killed。 He looked at Jordan and for a long minute their eyes held and Hindeman knew with a sense of failure that there was no way out。
Nor did he have any false heroics about him。 He was under no necessity to prove his courage and dying here today would prove nothing。
This was not the way he had planned it。 To ride a man down； to trap him； to kill him in a blaze of gunfire。 That was another thing。
But here was a showdown and Ben Hindeman was a man who knew how to retreat。
〃Mind if we e in out of the rain？〃 he asked mildly。
There was no other word spoken for a long minute and in that minute Jacob Lantz started to walk his horse。 He started slow but he was walking away。 Whatever he had seen； the others had not。
He was getting out of the line of fire。 And he had promised he would do just that。 〃No； by God！〃
Across the stillness of the morning Mort Bayless' voice lashed like a bull whip。 And as he spoke； he grabbed for his gun。
Of them all； he alone did not have a rifle in his hand and it was he who chose to open the ball。 He recognized； in Ben Hindeman's quiet question； a yielding and his hand struck down for the gun。
Trace Jordan saw it all； saw it clearly and sharply。 The black figures of the men etched against the slate…gray sky of morning； the driving rain； the horses darkened by rain； the ground steel…gray and glistening。 He caught the essence of the moment in that instant； that nickering fragment of time when Mort Bayless' drive to kill pushed them over the brink they sought to avoid。
Mort grabbed wildly。 His hand caught his gun butt and the edge of h