A Sportsman 395 



missed, taking effect in the adobe wall close to the 

 doorway, as we observed in the morning. 



Brown at these shots rapidly fell back and seizing 

 one of the revolvers hanging by the fireplace, emptied 

 the barrels of his pistol from the doorway in the 

 supposed direction of Jack. All was then still, and 

 Brown expressed his belief that he had surely plunked 

 Jack ; but no search was made outside, nor was the door 

 closed, and Brown shortly resumed his seat on the bear 

 skin, and his conversation with Slawson about Montana 

 matters, picking up the subject where they left off. 



I confess I did not feel at ease, and took pains to 

 seat myself out of range from the door and the two 

 windows, one being in front and the other on the side 

 toward Jack's house. 



A few moments afterward the doorway was filled 

 by another caller. It was a man named Graham 

 (between whom and Jack existed a grudge), who 

 hastily inquired the cause of the shooting he had 

 heard. This Brown explained, relating the particulars. 

 "Good God," said Graham, "then it was Williams 

 who passed me as I was coming up here. Oh, if I 

 had only known it was he, I could have shot him easily. ' ' 

 Out he rushed, thinking he might overtake him. But 

 we heard no further shots, and he evidently failed to 

 overtake the valiant Jack, nor did Graham return. 



The morning opened clear and bright, and we 

 mounted our horses and returned to Bernalillo. As 

 we passed Jack's miserable adobe he came out to meet 

 us. Just then came Graham along well mounted 

 on a gray mustang. He held up, and rinding where 

 we were going said he would accompany us. I looked 

 for trouble, as both were armed with a brace of pistols 



