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“Here comes Barnie and Ramon!” Shorty called to draw Benteen’s attention to the riders galloping into view

“Shoot a couple of those steers,” Benteen ordered, and reached for the rope tied to his saddle

Shorty wheeled his horse after a s aw

ay from the smell of smoke Benteen watched Shorty ride up to the first steer and drop it with a pistol shot through the back of the head Allanced over his shoulder to see the steadily advancing red glow The black s above them with ominous intent He rode over to the two dead steers to lend Shorty a hand

The steers were skinned on one side and ropes were tied to two of their feet When Barnie and the Mexican vaquero, Ramon, reached thealloped off, dragging the bloody carcass of the steer to the fire line Benteen and Shorty mounted their horses and wrapped the free end of the ropes around their saddle horns and took off with the second carcass, dragged between them

When they reached the narrow line of fla chestnut and leaped the horse over the fire onto the hot and blackened ground Running parallel with the flames, he was on one side and Shorty was on the other The bloodywet carcass was towed down the length of the fla it dead as it went

The heat was blistering, drying the sweat from his body the instant it reached his skin He choked fro for air There was no thinking, only doing The fire had to be stopped The stench of burning blood and air was powerful

Benteen and Shorty had to frequently change sides so the horses wouldn’t be crippled by prolonged running on the burned earth When it seemed they would ride in this fiery hell forever, the flames were out Benteen unwrapped the rope around the saddle horn and let it fall, leaving behind the charred reether in a s horses rest Their faces and clothes were blackened with s heavy on the drink from his canteen The water in it was hot, but it et

“Howsound, and he took another drink

“Fifty … a hundred head Maybebunch trapped in a draw”

Barnie was having trouble gathering enough spit to lick his cigarette paper together Finally he gave up and carried it to hisout He felt around in his pockets, then looked at the others

“Anybody got a light?” he asked

“You serious?” Shorty stared “If you want to smoke, just breathe in, you stupid sonuvabitch”

Benteen was too tired to laugh

Webb ran ahead of hi with Benteen’s hat falling down around his ears He pushed the door open, then turned to wait