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Each man waited for that single shot which would precipitate the
fight。 Even in their lawlessness the rude instinct of the duello
swayed them。 The officer of the law recognized the principle as
well as its practical advantage in a collision； but he hesitated to
sacrifice one of his men in an attack on the barn； which would draw
the fire of McKinstry at that necessarily fatal range。 As a brave
man he would have taken the risk himself； but as a prudent one； he
reflected that his hurriedly collected posse were all partisans；
and if he fell the conflict would resolve itself into a purely
partisan struggle without a single unprejudiced witness to justify
his conduct in the popular eye。 The master also knew this； it had
checked his first impulse to come forward as a mediator； his only
reliance now was on Mrs。 McKinstry's restraint and the sheriff's
forbearance。 The next instant both seemed to be imperilled。
〃Well； why don't you wade in？〃 sneered Dick McKinstry； 〃who do you
reckon's hidden in the barn？〃
〃I'll tell ye；〃 said a harsh； passionate voice from the hill…side。
〃It's Cressy McKinstry and the school…master hidin' in the hay。〃
Both parties turned quickly towards the intruder who had approached
them unperceived。 But the speech was followed by a more startling
revulsion of sentiment as Mrs。 McKinstry's voice rang out from the
barn； 〃You lie； Seth Davis！〃
The brief advantage offered to the sheriff in Davis's advent as a
neutral witness； was utterly lost by this unlooked…for revelation
of Mrs。 McKinstry's presence in the barn！ The fates were clearly
against him！ A woman in the fight； and an old one at that！ A
white woman to be forcibly ejected！ In the whole unwritten code of
Southwestern chivalry there was no such precedent。
〃Stand back；〃 he said disgustedly to his followers； 〃stand back and
let the dd barn slide。 But you； Hiram McKinstry； I'll give YOU
five minutes to shake yourself clear of your wife's petticoats and
git！〃 His blood was up nowthe quicker from his momentary
weakness and the trick of which he thought himself a dupe。
Again the fatal signal seemed imminent； again it was delayed。 For
Hiram McKinstry； with clanking spurs and rifle in hand stepped from
behind the barn； full in the presence of his antagonists。
〃Ez to my gitten in five minits；〃 he began in his laziest；
drowsiest manner； 〃we'll see when the time's up。 But jest now
words hev passed betwixt my wife and Seth Davis。 Afore anythin'
else goes on yer； he's got to take HIS back。 My wife allows he
lies； I allow he lies too； and I stan' here to say it。〃
The right of personal insult to precedence of redress was too old a
frontier principle to be gainsaid now。 Both parties held back and
every eye was turned to where Seth Davis had been standing。 But he
had disappeared。
Where？
When Mrs。 McKinstry hurled her denial from the barn； he had taken
advantage of the greater surprise to leap to one of the trusses of
hay that projected beyond the loft； and secure a footing from which
he quickly scrambled through the open scantling to the interior。
The master who； startled by his voice； had made his way through the
loose grain to the rear； reached it as Seth half crawled； half
tumbled through。 Their eyes met in a single flash of rage； but
before Seth could utter an outcry； the master had dropped his gun；
seized him around the neck and crammed a thick handful of the soft
hay he had hurriedly snatched up into his face and gasping mouth。
A furious but silent struggle ensued； the yielding hay on which
they both fell deadened all sound of a scuffle and concealed them
from view； masses of it； already loosened by the intruder's
entrance； and dislodged in their contortions began to slip through
the opening to the ground。 The master； still uppermost and holding
Seth firmly down； allowed himself to slip with them； shoving his
adversary before him； the maddened Missourian detecting his
purpose； made a desperate attempt to change his position； and
succeeded in raising his knee against the master's chest。 Ford；
guarding against what seemed to be only a wrestler's strategy；
contented himself by locking the bent knee firmly in that position；
and thus unwittingly gave Seth the looked…for opportunity of
drawing the bowie…knife concealed in his boot leg。 He knew his
mistake only as Seth violently freed his arm； and threw it upward
for the blow。 He heard the steel slither like a scythe through the
hay； and unlocking his hold desperately threw himself on the
uplifted arm。 The movement saved him。 For the released body of
Seth slipped rapidly through the opening； upheld for a single
instant on the verge by the grasp of the master's two hands on the
arm that still held the knife； and then dropped heavily downward。
Even then； the hay that had slipped before him would have broken
his fall； but his head came in violent contact with some farming
implements standing against the wall； and without a cry he was
stretched senseless on the ground。 The whole occurrence passed so
rapidly and so noiselessly that not only did McKinstry's challenge
fall upon his already unconscious ears； but the loosened hay which
in the master's struggles to recover himself still continued to
slide gently from the loft； actually hid him from the eyes of the
spectators who sought him a moment afterwards。 A mass of hay and
wild oats； dislodged apparently by Mrs。 McKinstry in securing her
defences； was all that met their eyes； even the woman herself was
unconscious of the deadly struggle that had taken place above her。
The master staggered to an upright position half choked and half
blinded with dust； turgid and bursting with the rush of blood to
his head； but clear and collected in mind； and unremorsefully
triumphant。 Unconscious of the real extent of Seth's catastrophe
he groped for and seized his gun； examined the cap and eagerly
waited for a renewed attack。 〃He tried to kill me； he would have
killed me； if he comes again I must kill him；〃 he kept repeating to
himself。 It never occurred to him that this was inconsistent with
his previous thoughtindeed with the whole tenor of his belief。
Perhaps the most peaceful man who has been once put in peril of
life by an adversary； who has recognized death threatening him in
the eye of his antagonist； is by some strange paradox not likely to
hold his own life or the life of his adversary as dearly as before。
Everything was silent now。 The suspense irritated him； he no
longer dreaded but even longed for the shot that would precipitate
hostilities。 What were they doing？ Guided by Seth； were they
concerting a fresh attack？
Listening more intently he became aware of a distant shouting； and
even more distinctly； of the dull； heavy trampling of hoofs。 A
sudden angry fear that the McKinstrys had been beaten off and were
flyinga fear and anger that now for the first time identified him
with their causecame over him； and he scrambled quickly towards
the opening below。 But the sound was approaching and with it came
a voice。
〃Hold on there； sheriff！〃
It was the voice of the agent Stacey。
There was a pause of reluctant murmuring。 But the warning was
enforced by a command from another voiceweak； unheroic； but
familiar； 〃I order this yer to stopright yer！〃
A burst of ironical laughter followed。 The voice was Uncle Ben's。
〃Stand back！ This is no time for foolin'；〃 said the sheriff
roughly。
〃He's right； Sheriff Briggs；〃 said Stacey's voice hurriedly；
〃you're acting for HIM； he's the owner of the land。〃
〃What？ That Ben Dabney？〃
〃Yes； he's Daubigny； who bought the title from us。〃
There was a momentary hush； and then a hurried murmur。
〃Which means； gents；〃 rose Uncle Ben's voice persuasively； 〃that
this yer young man； though fair…minded and well…intended； hez bin a
leetle too chipper and previous in orderin' out the law。 This yer
ain't no law matter with ME； boys。 It ain't to be settled by law…
papers； nor shot…guns and deringers。 It's suthin' to be chawed
over sociable…like； between drinks。 Ef any harm hez bin done； ef
anythin's happened； I'm yer to 'demnify the sheriff； and make it
comf'ble all round。 Yer know me； boys。 I'm talkin'。 It's me
Dabney； or Daubigny； which ever way you like it。〃
But in the silence that followed； the passions had not yet
evidently cooled。 It was broken by the sarcastic drawl of Dick
McKinstry： 〃If them Harrisons don't mind heven had their medders
trampled over by a few white men； why〃
〃The sheriff ez 'demnified for that；〃 interrupted Uncle Ben
hastily。
〃'N ef Dick McKinstry don't mind the damage to his pants in
crawlin' out o' gunshot in the tall grass〃retorted Joe Harrison。
〃I'm yer to settle that； boys；〃 said Uncle Ben cheerfully。
〃But who'll settle THIS？〃 clamored the voice of the older Harrison
from behind the