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I can see is a smooth…skinned； slippery vermin I'd hate to name a
snake after； that crawls around in the dark and lets cheap rough…
necks do all his dirty work。 I've saw dogs sneak up and grab a
man behind； but most always they let out a growl or two first。
And even a rattler is square enough to buzz at yuh and give yuh a
chanc't to side…step him。 Honest to grandma； I don't hardly know
what kinda reptyle y'are。 I hate to insult any of 'em； by cripes；
by namin' yuh after 'em。 But don't； for Lordy's sake； ever call
yourself a man agin！〃
Big Medicine turned his head and spat disgustedly into the grass
and looked back slightingly with other annihilating remarks close
behind his wide…apart teeth； but instead of speaking he made an
unbelievably quick motion with his hand。 The blow smacked loudly
upon Dunk's cheek； and so nearly sent him out of the saddle that
he grabbed for the horn to save himself。
〃Oh； I seert yuh keepin' yer hand next yer six…gun all the
while；〃 Big Medicine bawled。 〃That's one reason I say yuh ain't
no man！ Yuh wouldn't dast talk up to a prairie dog if yuh wasn't
all set to make a quick draw。 Yuh got your face slapped oncet
before by a Flyin' U man； and yuh had it comm'。 Now
you'regittin'itdoneright！〃
If you have ever seen an irate； proletarian mother cuffing her
offspring over an empty wood…box； you may picture perhaps the
present proceeding of Big Medicine。 To many a man the thing would
have been unfeasible； after the first blow； because of the
horses。 But Big Medicine was very nearly all that he claimed to
be； and one of his pet vanities was his horsemanship； he managed
to keep within a fine slapping distance of Dunk。 He stopped when
his hand began to sting through his glove。
〃Now you keep your hand away from that gunthat you ain't honest
enough to carry where folks can see it； but 'ye got it cached in
your pocket！〃 he thundered。 〃And go on with what you was goin'
t'say。 Only don't get swell…headed enough to think you're a man；
agin。 You ain't。〃
〃I've got this to say！〃 Mere type cannot reproduce the
malevolence of Dunk's spluttering speech。 〃I've sent for the
county sheriff and a dozen deputies to arrest you； and you； and
you； damn you！〃 He was pointing a shaking finger at the older
members of the Happy Family； whom he recognized not gladly； but
too well。 〃I'll have you all in Deer Lodge before that lying；
thieving； cattle…stealing Old Man of yours can lift a finger。
I'll sheep Flying U coulee to the very doors of the white house。
I'll skin the range between here and the riverand I'll have
every one of you hounds put where the dogs won't bite you！〃 He
drew a hand across his mouth and smiled as they say Satan himself
can smile upon occasion。
〃You've done enough to send you all over the road； destroying
property and assaulting harmless menyou wait！ There are other
and better ways to fight than with the fists； and I haven't
forgotten any of you fellowsthere are a few more rounders among
you〃
〃Hey！ You apologize fer that； by cripes； er I'll kill yuh the
longest way I know。 And that〃 Big Medicine again laid violent
hands upon Dunk； 〃and that way won't feel good； now I'm tellin'
yuh。 Apologize； er〃
〃Say； all this don't do any good； Bud；〃 Weary expostulated。 〃Let
Dunk froth at the mouth if he wants to； what we want is to get
these sheep off the range。 And；〃 he added recklessly； 〃so long as
the sheriff is headed for us anyway； we may as well get busy and
make it worth his while。 So〃 He stopped； silenced by a most
amazing interruption。
On the brow of the hill； when first they had sighted Dunk in the
hollow； something had gone wrong with Miguel's saddle so that he
had stopped behind； and； to keep him company； Andy had stopped
also and waited for him。 Later； when Dunk was spluttering
threats； they had galloped up to the edge of the group and pulled
their horses to a stand。 Now； Miguel rode abruptly close to Dunk
as rides one with a purpose。
He leaned and peered intently into Dunk's distorted countenance
until every man there； struck by his manner； was watching him
curiously。 Then he sat back in the saddle； straightened his legs
in the stirrups and laughed。 And like his smile when he would
have it so； or the little twitch of shoulders by which he could
so incense a man； that laugh brought a deeper flush to Dunk's
face； reddened though it was by Big Medicine's vigorous slapping。
〃Say； you've got nerve；〃 drawled the Native Son； 〃to let a
sheriff travel toward you。 I can remember when you were more
timid； amigo。〃 He turned his head until his eyes fell upon Andy。
〃Say； Andy！〃 he called。 〃Come and take a look at this hombre。
You'll have to think back a few years；〃 he assisted laconically。
In response； Andy rode up eagerly。 Like the Native Son； he leaned
and peered into eyes that stared back defiantly； wavered； and
turned away。 Andy also sat back in the saddle then； and snorted。
〃So this is the Dunk Whittaker that's been raising merry hell
around here！ And talks about sending for the sheriff； huh？ I've
always heard that a lot uh gall is the best disguise a man can
hide under； but； by gracious； this beats the deuce！〃 He turned to
the astounded Happy Family with growing excitement in his manner。
〃Boys； we don't have to worry much about this gazabo！ We'll just
freeze onto him till the sheriff heaves in sight。 Gee！ There'll
sure be something stirring when we tell him who this Dunk person
really is！ And you say he was in with the Old Man； once？ Oh；
Lord！〃 He looked with withering contempt at Dunk； and Dunk's
glance flickered again and dropped； just as his hand dropped to
the pocket of his coat。
〃No； yuh don't； by cripes！〃 Big Medicine's hand gripped Dunk's
arm on the instant。 With his other he plucked the gun from Dunk's
pocket； and released him as he would let go of something foul
which he had been compelled to touch。
〃He'll be good； or he'll lose his dinner quick；〃 drawled the
Native Son； drawing his own silver…mounted six…shooter and
resting it upon the saddle horn so that it pointed straight at
Dunk's diaphragm。 〃You take Weary off somewhere and tell him
something about this deal； Andy。 I'll watch this slippery
gentleman。〃 He smiled slowly and got an answering grin from Andy
Green； who immediately rode a few rods away； with Weary and Pink
close behind。
〃Say； by golly； what's Dunk wanted fer？〃 Slim blurted
inquisitively after a short silence。
〃Not for riding or driving over a bridge faster than a walk
Slim；〃 purred the Native Son； shifting his gun a trifle as Dunk
moved uneasily in the saddle。 〃You know the man。 Look at his
faceand use your imagination； if you've got any。〃
CHAPTER XIII。 The Happy Family Learn Something
〃Well； I hope this farce is about over；〃 Dunk sneered； with as
near an approach to his old； supercilious manner as he could
command； when the three who had ridden apart returned presently。
〃Perhaps； Weary； you'll be good enough to have this fellow put up
his gun； and these〃 he hesitated； after a swift glance； to
apply any epithet whatever to the Happy Family。 〃I have two
witnesses here to swear that you have without any excuse
assaulted and maligned and threatened me； and you may consider
yourselves lucky if I do not insist〃
〃Ah； cut that out；〃 Andy advised wearily。 〃I don't know how it
strikes the rest； but it sounds pretty sickening to me。 Don't
overlook the fact that two of us happen to know all about you；
and we know just where to send word； to dig up a lot more
identification。 So bluffing ain't going to help you out； a darned
bit。〃
〃Miguel； you can go with Andy；〃 Weary said with brisk decision。
〃Take Dunk down to the ranch till the sheriff gets hereif it's
straight goods about Dunk sending for him。 If he didn't； we can
take Dunk in to…morrow； ourselves。〃 He turned and fixed a cold；
commanding eye upon the slack…jawed herders。 〃Come along； you
two； and get these sheep headed outa here。〃
〃Say； we'll just lock him up in the blacksmith shop； and come on
back；〃 Andy amended the order after his own free fashion。 〃He
couldn't get out in a million years； not after I'm through
staking him out to the anvil with a log…chain。〃 He smiled
maliciously into Dunk's fear…yellowed countenance； and waved him
a signal to ride ahead； which Dunk did without a word of protest
while the Happy Family looked on dazedly。
〃What's it all about； Weary？〃 Irish asked； when the three were
gone。 〃What is it they've got on Dunk？ Must be something pretty
fierce； the way he wilted down into the saddle。〃
〃You'll have to wait and ask the boys。〃 Weary rode off to hurry
the herders on the far side of the band。
So the Happy Family remained perforce unenlightened upon the
subject and for that they said hard things about Weary； and about
Andy and Miguel as well。 They believed that they were entitled to
know the