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At a call from Meeker, who stood at the back of the cabin, Gaston Isbel rode into the yard, followed by the others of his party "Somebody look after the hosses," ordered Isbel, as he dismounted and took his rifle and pack "Better leave the saddles on, leastways till we see what's comin' off"
Jean and Bill Isbel led the horses back to the corral While watering and feeding the to speak, to confide in him, to unburden himself of some load This peculiarity of Bill's had become marked when he was perfectly sober Yet he had never spoken or even begun anything unusual Upon the present occasion, however, Jean believed that his brother otten rid of his emotion, or whatever it was, had they not been interrupted by Colmor
"Boys, the old man's orders are for us to sneak round on three sides of Greaves's store, keepin' out of gunshot till we find good cover, an' then crawl closer an' to pick off any of Jorth's gang who shows himself"
Bill Isbel strode off without a reply to Colmor
"Well, I don't think so ly "Jorth has lots of friends here Soht pick us off"
"I kicked, but the old 'in' now Struck me as powerful queer But no wonder"
"Maybe he knows best Did he say anythin' about what he an' the rest of theot the same as me I reckon we'd better try it out, for a while, anyway"
"Looks like he wants us to keep out of the fight," replied Jean, thoughtfully "Maybe, thoughDad's no fool Colo round an' come up as close as advisable behind Greaves's store You take the right side An' keep hid"
With that Jean strode off, going around the barn, straight out the orchard lane to the open flat, and then clie Presently he reached a line of sheds and corrals, to which he held until he arrived at the road This point was about a quarter of a hted no one The road, the fields, the yards, the backs of the cabins all looked deserted A blight had settled down upon the peaceful activities of Grass Valley Crossing the road, Jean began to circle until he came close to several cabins, around which he e of the slope, where brush and thickets afforded hie to a line directly back of Greaves's store Then he turned toward it Soon he was again approaching a cabin of that side, and some of its inmates descried him, Their actions attested to their alarm Jean half expected a shot fro doubts, but he was uarded nify to Jean that he had nothing to fear After this act he disappeared Jean believed that he had been recognized by soonistic to the Isbels Therefore he passed the cabin and, co to a thick scrub-oak tree that offered shelter, he hid there to watch From this spot he could see the back of Greaves's store, at a distance probably too far for a rifle bullet to reach Before hie common In front of the store ran the road Jean's position was such that he could not coht of this road doard Meeker's house, a fact that disturbed his in the hope of espying a better And he discovered what he thought would be a h he could not see much farther down the road Jean went back around the cabin and, coot the corner of Greaves's barn between him and theof the store Then he boldly hurried into the open, and soon reached an old wagon, from behind which he proposed to watch He could not see eitheror door of the store, but if any of the Jorth contingent came out the back way they would be within reach of his rifle Jean took the risk of being shot at from either side