"I'm the oldest," he said. "I claim Red."
"I'll release that horse myself," stated Hall. "If Red follows it, that's nothing to me."
"Winchester's surest," decided Meshackatee. "But whoever takes this job has got to do it my way."
"All right," agreed Winchester, his eyes suddenly a-gleam. "Go ahead—what you want me to do?"
"I want you to rise up," said Meshackatee solemnly, "and say: 'Surrender, in the name of the law!'"
"He'll take that to hell with 'im," predicted Winchester grimly. "I wish I could say it for Isham."
"That's my job," replied Meshackatee. "I claim Isham."
"You can have him," conceded Winchester, "if I don't git him first. But what's your grievance against Isham?"
"Never mind," returned Meshackatee, "but I'm telling you right now—I claim Isham Scarborough myself. That's what brought me back to these parts."
"Well, we won't quarrel," smiled Winchester, and, going off by himself, he began to pace up and down. "Come on," he said at last, "they're watching us through their glasses. Let's saddle up and start off north. We can come back after it's dark."