The rest of the H-P men did not make so much trouble. They realized that they were helpless to do otherwise than obey orders. One by one they defiled past Lige Benner, and one by one they snatched their weapons from their belts and flung them angrily down.
When they were all disarmed, Benner ordered them to their horses. They rushed at their animals, hurled themselves into their saddles and careered away, roaring their threats as to what they would do later.
As soon as the last hoofbeat had died to silence, Buffalo Bill pulled open the cabin door and passed out in front. Lige Benner rode up to him, dismounted, and came forward with outstretched hand.
“Do you believe that I mean well now?” he asked.
“I never doubted that you meant to do the right thing, Benner,” answered the scout heartily, giving the offered hand a cordial clasp. “How were you able to get here just when we most needed help?”
“I left Hackamore just after I talked with you, and rode for home. I hadn’t been there long when I heard this about Dunbar. A little while after that, one of our boys who had been over at the H-P ranch, rode in and told me that the lynching party of fifteen had started for the Star-A. As quick as I could, I got this force of men together, gave them a short talk, and we rode here. I reckon you know the rest.”
Dunbar, Perry, Hattie Dunbar, Sim Pierce, old Nomad and Little Cayuse had crowded through the door while Lige Benner was talking. The scout stepped a little apart and waited to see what would happen between Benner and the Star-A ranchers.
There was an embarrassing pause, for a few moments. Benner cut it short by stepping up to Perry.
“Dick Perry,” said he, “let me frankly say that I never liked you, but also let me confess that I had no real reason for putting myself at swords’ points with you. I was in the wrong. I did not make this about face because I felt that I was in the wrong, but because I felt that I should be drawn into a bad tangle unless Red Steve was captured and made to tell the truth about Ace Hawkins. But I’m receding from that position. I’m beginning to want peace on the Brazos for its own sake. I take it, you and Dunbar are as anxious to find Red Steve as I am? Then let’s make common cause. Will you take my hand?”
Perry hesitated. In the gathering dusk, the scout saw his eyes flash and his face harden; then, generously, he threw past grievances to the winds and took the hand held out to him.