He laughed mirthlessly.
"Well," he said, watching Antrim keenly; "if he's as fast as he used to be--before gettin' to be a big guy in this neck of the woods tamed him--you'll have to be lightnin'-- an' then some!" He wheeled, and went out of the door, where he stood, looking toward the plains on the other side of the river, grinning derisively.
* * * * * Two hours later Selden clattered to the door of the cabin and dismounted, conveying the news that Moreton and Lawler were riding north, toward Willets.

And within a few minutes after the appearance of Selden, Slade and forty-eight of Antrim's men rode swiftly, scurrying into the star haze, straight into the south wind that swept out of the Wolf River valley.
The men rode close together for more than an hour, until they reached the crest of the big valley, where they halted, closely massed, and scanned the semi-gloom in front of them.
The big valley was silent, somber.

There was no movement in it.

Looking down from the crest the Antrim men could see the dim outlines of the Circle L buildings; and they had no trouble in distinguishing the ranchhouse, out of which through a window, a feeble glimmer of light came.

The other buildings were dark.
One of the men laughed raucously, as he pointed out the light.