He started to carry out his threat.

Three times he fell and groaned in pain, until Jim became convinced that Brenchfield's foot was really badly sprained.

"Won't you leave me here? I'll be all right in a while," cried out Brenchfield, "then I can make my own place in my own time."

"Oh, let's leave him, Jim. We may need every man we've got," said Morrison, "and if any of us take him to his place, it might arouse suspicion."

"Yes!--what's the good of losing two men when one is all we need let go?" added McLean.

"All right, all right!" said Jim. "Here's the flask, Mayor. Come on, boys! Time's pa.s.sing and we've a goodish bit to go yet."

CHAPTER XIV

The Round-Up

The remainder of the journey was made in silence, and without further mishap. The thick of the crude trail was left behind and they got on to the well-beaten highway, trudging along at a fast gait until they came to the Snake Loop with its two roads--one leading for a mile or so along the lower sh.o.r.e line; the other running round Big Horn Hills.

Jim stopped at the forks.

"Say!--I'm thinking three of us had better go by one way and four of us by the other;--just in case of accidents.

"McLean, Phil and I can go the low way. You four go by the high road.

We can wait for each other at the junction further on."

The crowd split up and parted.

Jim, Phil and McLean had only got along about half a mile, when they stopped up at the sound of the fast beating of horse hoofs on the highway behind them.

They listened intently.

"Coming from Redmans," whispered McLean.

"Run on ahead and get in among the bushes at the bend there," shouted Jim. "I'll keep to the road, and whoever he may be I'll stop him as he comes up. If he tries to beat me to it,--shoot! See your ropes are O.K., Mack, for you might have to use them quick."

The two hurried ahead and disappeared. Jim kept jogging along in the middle of the road, slowly and innocently.

The clatter of the oncomer grew louder and louder, and beat faster.

A horseman came tearing along at breakneck speed. When he was some twenty paces off, Jim swung round, levelled his rifle and shouted.

"Stop! Throw up your hands! Quick!"

The horse drew back on its haunches and sprang up in fear, but the rider had it in check and held his seat. He steadied his beast and put his hands up slowly.

Jim went forward. As he drew closer he recognised the rider--Red McGregor.

"Get down!" ordered Jim, smiling grimly to himself.

McGregor seemed to recognise Langford at the same time and, thinking Jim was alone, took a chance.

His off hand lowered and he pulled a gun quickly, but a shot and a flash from the side of the road were quicker still. His arm dropped limply and he yelled in pain and surprise.

"Get down!" ordered Jim again.

"You be d.a.m.ned!" cried McGregor, swinging his horse round and setting spurs.

The horse sprang in response. Jim thought he was going to make it, when a lariat flew out like a long snake, poised for a second over Red's head and, in a second more, stretched him on the roadway, half-choked.

McLean held the rope taut, while Jim and Phil ran in and secured their prisoner.

"What'n the h.e.l.l's the matter with you bunch," gasped Red. "Can't a man go to Vernock when he d.a.m.ned-well wants to?"

"Not always, Red!" answered Jim. "It isn't always healthy to want to go to Vernock."

"By G.o.d!--let me go and I'll take you on one at a time--two at a time if you like. You, Langford,--I'll fix you for this anyway."

"We're going to fix you first, Rob Roy McGregor O!"

"I pretty near done you in last time, Langford. I'll make good and sure next time,--you bet!"

"Oh, shut up!" exclaimed Jim, "you're wearing your windpipe out talking."

They half pulled McGregor and half dragged him to a nearby tree, to which they tied him securely, divesting him of his knife and other articles that they considered he might feel constrained to use.

He cursed them roundly, until Jim tied Red's cravat round his mouth.

"Come on, boys! That's good enough! We don't want to take him along.

If we don't hurry up, that bunch may beat us to it yet."

They reached the junction of the two roads without further adventure.

Five minutes later, along came Morrison, Thompson, Deputy Chief Howden and Blair, with one more--an unrecognised--in their company.

"What did you catch?" asked Jim.

"Just little St.i.tchy Summers!" replied Howden. "We found him out for a const.i.tutional, hoofing it for Vernock. Says he does it every morning early for the good of his health. So we brought him along."

"We found a somnambulist, too," said Jim, "Rob Roy McGregor. We tied him up at the roadside, in case he might wake up and hurt himself."

"Foxy trick that all the same--one each way to make sure of one getting through!"

"Say!--you don't suppose they're wise?" asked Morrison.

"Sure they are!"