"If Steve could talk—" said the cowboy.
"I guess Steve is done for," said Houck. "I knew Young Pete was a tough kid—but I didn't figure he'd try to down Steve."
"Supposin' they both had a hand in it—White and Young Pete?"
Houck shook his head. "Anybody got any whiskey?" he asked.
Some one produced a flask. Houck knelt and raised Gary's head, tilting the flask carefully. Presently Gary's lips moved and his chest heaved.
"Who was it? White?" questioned Houck.
Gary moved his head in the negative.
"Young Pete?" Gary's white lips shaped to a faint whisper—"Yes."
One of the men folded a slicker and put it under Gary's head.
Houck stood up. "I guess it's up to us to get Pete Annersley."