Louis LAmour - The Quick and the Dead

Contents

H UNTING THE H UNTER

V allain crouched suddenly, squatting at the foot of the tree, then he moved swiftly, crouche low. He felt a cold chill of panic run through him.

The Huron!

He was out there he had to be stalking him!

Villain had heard stories about the man. He was a skillful hunter and he had killed more than one man. He was like a ghost in the woods, and in this timber along the river he was in his element.

Villain strained his ears for sound, heard nothing.

He was good, he told himself, but he was as good as the Huron?

Was he even half as good?

Chapter 1

W HEN SUSANNA STEPPED down from the wagon Duncan had the fire going, but he sat staring into the flames, forearms resting on his knees, hands hanging loose.

Duncan? She was a slender, graceful and unusually pretty woman. Duncan? What is it?

Its thisall of it. His gesture took in their surroundings. I had no right to bring you and Tom into this, no right at all.

We discussed it, Duncan. We all took part in the decision. We all decided it was the best thing.

I know, Susanna, but that was back east. It was one thing to sit in a comfortable living room and talk about the west, but its something else when you are face to face with it. He looked westward, toward the open plains. Whats out there, Susanna? What are we getting into?

Somebodys coming, Pa. Tom was twelve. If his father had doubts, he had none.

They looked where he pointed. A rider was coming through the scattered trees toward them. He was a tall, rough-looking man on a roan horse, and he carried his rifle as if born with it.

He pulled up some fifty yards off. His eyes swept the camp. Howdy. All right if I come in?

There was nothing about his looks to inspire confidence but Duncan McKaskel said, Come on in. Its all right.

He rode up, stopping across the fire from their wagon, dismounting with his horse between himself and the fire.

Seen your smoke. Figured you might have coffee.

Rifle in hand he walked to the fire, seeing Susanna he removed his hat. Sorry, maam. Dont like to butt in like this but I been ridin all night, an no coffee for three, four days.

Be seated. Breakfast will soon be ready.

I am Duncan McKaskel. My wife, Susanna, my son, Tom.

Howdy.

He added a stick to the fire, glancing at the wagon and the deep-cut tracks. You got quite a load there. Aint goin far, I guess.

Were going west, Duncan said.

You aint goin far with that load. He accepted the cup Susanna poured for him and squatted on his heels. You got four head of mules out theregood mules. But thats too much load.

We will manage, Duncans tone was cool.

The stranger was, Susanna decided, very good-looking in a rough way. He wore a mustache, was unshaved, and his boots were down at the heel. All his clothes were shabby, yet there was an animal strength about him and an almost feline grace.

Good coffee. He reached for the pot and refilled his cup. Ever driven on the prairie? I mean where theres no road?

No, I havent.

Had a sign of rain lately. The grass is good for the stock, but it makes the pullin mighty hard. You aint goin far with just four mules an a load that heavy. An sposin your mules wander off? Howll you find em?

We have riding horses.

The stranger sipped his coffee. Not no more, you dont. Theyve been took.

Whats that?

You had you a pair of sorrels? Big, handsome horses?

Yes.

Then you dont have them no longer. They been stole.

Whats that? McKaskel came to his feet. What do you mean?

A couple of fellers drove them off just before full light. Fellers from the settlement, yonder.

I dont believe McKaskel started to move off, then glanced from the stranger to Susanna. He stopped. Tom, you run and check on the horses.

Susanna was slicing bacon into the frying-pan, her face flushed from the heat. Youre a mighty handsome woman, maam.

Thank you.

When you crossed the river, yonder? You come right up through the settlement?

We stopped there. McKaskel decided he did not like this man.

Figured you had. They seen your stock, and they seen your woman.

What do you mean by that?

Thats a mean outfit. Small caliber, but mean. They seen that heavy-loaded wagon, your wife, an your stock. They mean to have them.

Tom came running, his face white. Pa! The horses are gone! Theres tracksright across that sandy place toward those shacks.

McKaskel felt sick. He had known there might be trouble in coming west, but felt sure that if he minded his own business he could stay out of it. He got up slowly, then went to the wagon for his rifle.

Duncan? Susanna was frightened.

I must have those horses. Ill just walk over and see if I can find them.

The stranger picked two slices of bacon from the skillet. Without looking up he said, You ever kill a man, McKaskel?

Kill a man? McKaskel was startled. Why, no. I havent.

You walk into that settlement with that gun an you better figure on it.

I dont think

Mister, folks say this country is hell on horses an women. Well, its hell on tenderfeet, too. You walk into that place without bein ready to kill an your wifell be a widow before the hours gone.

Thats nonsense. Ill go to the law.

Aint none. Folks out here generally make their own.

I can use this rifle. Ive killed a dozen deer

Was the deer shootin back at you? Mister, that outfit figure on you comin in. They want you to. Why do you spose they left all them tracks? They figure to kill you, Mister.

What?

They seen your woman. That gang figures your stock and your wagonload are worth somethin. They took your horses so youll come lookin. They want you to come armed. Nobody will ever ask questions, but if they do theyll just say you came in there a-frettin and a-steamin and made a fight, so they just had to kill you.

So what am I to do? Let them steal my horses?

Uh-uh. You just go in there with your eyes open, figurin youre goin to have to kill somebody. You spot you a big fat man, an when you start talkin you just sort of careless-like get your rifle pointed at him. Then you tell them to trot out your horses.

Duncan? Dont do it. It isnt worth it. Not for two horses.

We raised those horses, Susanna, and they belong to us. I shall go after them.

Hes got to try, maam. If he dont go in theyll foller after an steal your mules.

How do you know so much about it? Susanna demanded. How do we know you are not one of them?

His grin was sly, amused. You dont, maam.

Im going in, McKaskel said, again.

You betterwhile the notions on you. You just go right on in, an dont you worry none about your woman, here. Anything happens to you an Ill take care of her. Ill do just that.

Now, see here!

You got it to do, McKaskel. You better have at it.

McKaskel hesitated, glancing from one to the other.

Duncan, Susanna said quietly, if it must be done, do it, and do not worry about me. I will be all right.

Pa? Can I go with you? I can shoot!

You stay with your mother.

He took up his rifle and strode out of camp. His mouth was dry and he was frightened. Only three hundred yards to the shacks, and he did not know whether he wished it were nearer or farther. He had seen the men sitting on the saloon porch as he and his family came through and he had been glad to leave them behind.