"Freeman,"--the voice was neither raised nor lowered, but steady as the drip of falling water,--"Freeman, you know better than that, and you know you know better." The grip of the long left hand on the throat tightened. The fingers of the right locked. "Say so--quick!"
Face to face, looking fair into each other's eyes, stood the two men, while the spectators watched breathlessly as they would have done at a climax in a play. It was a case of will against will, elemental man against his brother.
"I'm waiting," suggested Blair, and even in the dim light Freeman saw the blue eyes beneath the long lashes darken. Instinctively the victim's hand went to his hip and lingered there; but he could no more have withdrawn the weapon which he felt there than he could have struck his own mother. He started to speak; but his lips were dry, and he moistened them with his tongue.
"Yes, I know better," he admitted low.
Ben Blair dropped his hand and turned to the spectators. "Men," he said slowly and distinctly, "for the present at least I'm master of this ranch, and when I give an order I expect to be obeyed." Again his eye went from face to face fearlessly, dominantly. "Does any other man doubt me?"
Not a voice broke the stillness of the night. Only the restless movement of the impatient mustangs answered.
"Very well, then, you heard what I said. Go to bed, and to-morrow go on with your work as usual. Grannis will be in charge while I'm gone," and without a backward glance the long figure returned to the ranch-house.
The weazened foreman and the tall adventurer had been watching him impassively from the doorway. In silence they made room for him to pass.
"Grannis," he asked directly, "have those horses been taken care of?"
"No, sir."
"See to it at once then."
"Yes, sir."
The blue eyes rested for a moment on the other's face.
"You heard who I said would be in charge while I'm away?"
"Yes, sir," again.
Ben moved over to the bunk opposite to that in which lay the dead man and took off his hat and coat.
"Graham!"
The foreman came close, stood at attention.
"Keep awake and call me before daylight, will you?"
"I will."
"And, Graham!"
"Yes."
"I may be gone several days. You and Ma attend to the--burial. Dig the grave out under the big maple." A pause. "I think," steadily, "he would have liked it there."
The foreman nodded silently.
Benjamin Blair dropped into the bunk, drew the blankets over him and closed his eyes. As he did so, from the direction of the barn there came a succession of pistol shots--one, two, three. Then again silence fell.