The H-P contingent were stunned into silence and inaction. The wagon box tumbled over and the torches dropped from the hands of the would-be firebugs.
Certainly it was an odd situation. Both Phelps’ men and Benner’s had fought side by side against the Star-A ranchers, along at the first of the troubles. Each side had comrades in the other side, and for the two parties to stand ready to leap at each other’s throat formed a strange commentary on the ways of fate.
“You see,” called Lige Benner, “I’m the boss of this end of the business. There are fifteen of you and twenty-six of us. We have rifles, and you have small arms. Likewise, we have the drop.”
“I—I thort you fellers was friends o’ our’n!” stuttered Prouther.
“So we are,” answered Benner. “We’re the best friends you H-P fellers ever had. What we’re doing now is the friendliest kind of an act. Prouther, we’re keeping you from doing something you’d be sorry for—something you’d be brought to book for. You’re fighting Buffalo Bill, and you’re laying yourself wide open by your lawlessness. If you had been allowed to keep on, sooner or later Buffalo Bill would have made you pay up in full.”
“But Nate Dunbar done up Jake Phelps!”
“Be hanged to that! Dunbar is as guilty of that as I am—just about. But I’ve talked enough. You punchers will file past me, one at a time, and drop your guns in front of my horse. After that, you will take to your mounts and hustle for home—and you’ll stay home when you get there, for I intend to keep this force of men on guard here until this Jake Phelps matter is settled, and settled right. You can head the procession, Prouther!”
“I’m blamed if I’ll give up my guns!” howled Prouther.
“You’ll give them up, and no more words about it. If you’ll ride over to the Circle-B, in two or three days, you can have the weapons back again. Start yourself, Prouther!”
Prouther tried to haggle further. Thereupon Benner ordered one of his men to dismount and take his weapons away from him. Prouther swore, but he had to yield. Two rifles were aimed at him, and the faces behind the guns were full of grim resolution.