"You haven't anything against Bill. Let him go," said Hal quickly.
"He'll be a witness against us."
"You bet I will," said Bill promptly.
"No; he'll leave the country."
"I'll camp on the trail of these murderers as long as I live."
"For God's sake, shut up, Bill," begged Hal, as his eyes filled with involuntary tears.
"Sorry you feel that-a-way," said Humpy; "leaves us no choice. Up with 'em."
"Hold on there—you!"
The cowmen turned to see McShay sitting on a smoking, gasping horse with quivering nostrils and trembling flanks, and mopping his dripping brow first with his sleeve and then with a huge bandanna handkerchief.
"Say, I ain't had a ride like this since I was a kid. Well, you beat me to it, Mr. Agent; didn't you? I guess your Injins showed you a short cut. Some of you hold up this horse, and some more of you help me off'n him, though I don't know's I can stand much."