But when I'm
ordered to do anything in my line of duty, why, it's got to be done.
Your friend has gassed some about a man named Silverthorn bein' at the
bottom of this thing. Mebbe he is--I ain't got no means of knowin'.
It appears to me that Bill ain't got no call to hog your whole bunch,
though, for I've never knowed Bill to raise more than fifteen hundred
head of cattle in one season. I'm takin' a chance on two hundred
coverin' his claims."
It was after noon when the sheriff and his men started westward with
the suspected stock.
Carter, fuming with rage, watched them go. Then he turned to Sanderson.
"Hell an' damnation! We'll hit Devil's Hole about dusk--if we start
now. What'll we do?"
"Start," said Sanderson. "If we hang around here for another day
they'll trump up another fake charge an' clean us out!"
The country through which they were forced to travel during the
afternoon was broken and rugged, and the progress of the herd was slow.
However, according to Carter, they made good time considering the
drawbacks they encountered, and late afternoon found them within a few
miles of the dreaded Devil's Hole.
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