32 SADDLE AND CAMP 



genial, hospitable gentlemen it has been my for- 

 tune to know in all the West. He spoke of the 

 fight incidentally and told me that while the 

 other man was a splendid fellow normally, he 

 had a fearful temper, was an old-time gunman, 

 too quick and ready to shoot, and "when it 

 came to a showdown I was forced to use my 

 gun in self-defense or be killed." 



It was not far from here that the Smith gang 

 of outlaws had a battle with a deputy sheriff 

 and three cowboys. The sheriff and his party 

 had been looking for the Smiths all day. It 

 was twilight when they topped a ridge and dis- 

 covered the outlaws cooking supper in a ravine 

 on the opposite side. The Smiths saw the dep- 

 uty sheriff's party at the same time, and all hands 

 took to rocks for cover. The men below had 

 the advantage, for they were in a hollow and 

 in a shadow, while the others were on the crest 

 of the ridge which stood in sharp silhouette 

 against the sky. 



Presently the deputy sheriff indiscreetly 

 showed his head and was killed, and a few min- 

 utes later one of the cowboys fell. The odds 

 were hopelessly against the two remaining ones, 

 Peterson and Barrett by name, and they with- 

 drew. The following day a new posse was or- 

 ganized to follow the outlaws, but they escaped. 



...... 



