off two of their braves. You was askin' who talked up awhile back. It
was me."

Gary was on his feet and took a step toward Pete when young Andy rose.
Pete was his bunkie. Andy didn't want to fight, but if Gary pulled his
gun . . .

Bailey got up quietly, and turning his back on Gary told Pete and Andy
to saddle up and ride out to relieve two of the boys on night-herd.

It was Bud Long who broke the tension. "It's right late for young
roosters to be crowin' that way," he chuckled.

Everybody laughed except Gary. "But it ain't too late for full-growed
roosters to crow!" he asserted.

Long chuckled again. "Nope. I jest crowed."

Not a man present missed the double-meaning, including Gary. And Gary
did not want any of Long's game. The genial Bud had delicately
intimated that his sympathies were with the Concho boys. Then there
were Bailey and Bill Haskins and several others among the Concho outfit
who would never see one of their own get the worst of it. Gary turned
and slunk away toward his own wagon. One after another the T-Bar-T
boys rose and followed. The Annersley raid was not a popular subject
with them.

Bailey turned to Long. "Thanks, Bud."

"'Mornin', Jim," said Long facetiously. "When 'd you git here?"