Echo walked hastily to Sage-brush's side. She felt her presence might help to avoid the outbreak which she saw could not long be avoided.
Peruna had lost control of tongue and discretion by this time.
"You'll never see him back in this section again. You all know where he is—across the line in Mexico—why, she's fixin' to make a clean-up now, an' sell out and join him!"
Sage-brush reached for his gun, but Echo restrained him.
"You—" he cried.
Buck turned angrily on Peruna. "You keep your mouth shet," he shouted.
Peruna subsided at his boss' command, mumbling: "There ain't no female can pull the forelock over my eyes."
"Take care," warningly called Buck.
Peruna fired up again, regardless of consequences. "Why, I see through her game. She's glad to get rid of him, so's she can play up to her ranch boss, Handsome Charley there."
Buck had to act instantly to preserve his supremacy over his men.