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 speaking to Duncan, ignoring the blustering cattleman entirely.

"Not till I git through with you, young feller, you won't! An' maybe you won't then."

"Let him go, Sawyer; we haven't got proof enough against him to hold him," Duncan said.

"I got proof enough to satisfy me, Duncan. More than any man in this valley I stand to lose by them fever ticks you and your damn gang's sowed over my ranch, young feller. Them cattle's over there mixed up with mine, and they'll all have the fever before ten days, and I'll be cleaned out. Do you reckon I'm goin' to stand by and see the varmint that done it sneak off to his hole and me not move a hand?"

"Oh, well, Sawyer, if it'll do you any good."

Duncan indulged him, like a headstrong child. The others drew round in a half circle, knowing fully what was coming.

"You stampeded 'em in here, you and them other Texas fellers combined—it wasn't no oneman job, and I ain't fool enough to believe it was. I didn't ketch you doin' it, and I ain't got no call, 'cordin' to law, to pull out and shoot you in your tracks, but if you'll take off that there gun and stand up to me I'll give you the damndest thumpin' a man ever packed!"