Bull Hunter

p. Leaving their team, they bolted across country to the open glade. There they found Pete still shouting for help, kneeling a

t was he who counted the pulse and listened to the heart. "

eeve, "as the flicker of a candle, I'll fan it up til

on. "And how com

" said Reeve. "Help me get

h Pete Reeve supporting the head of the wounded man and cautioning them to drive gently, they managed the journey to the town as softly as possible. At the hotel a strong-armed cortege bore Bull to

ie," he told the dubious doctor. "He's got to live. And the minute yo

ng that, if Bull Hunter died, Pete Reeve would blame him for lack of care. In truth, Pete seemed ready to blame everyone. He threaten

om. Wide-eyed, silent-footed, he was ever about. He seemed never to sleep, and the doctor swore that the on

critical period when a relapse was feared. Finally the time came when it cou

, and liable to sleep many hours through the very heart of the day. At this point of his recovery the door opened

so distinctly unpleasant. When he opened them again, Harry had drawn closer, his hat pushed on the back of his head after the manner of a baffled man, and a faint smile work

ou are as big as life, pretty near,

n, Harry. What brun

to see how y

Such anxiety from

are, and how you got the sheriff, and how you rushed Pete Reeve bare-handed. Sure is some story! All the way down I just had to

"and it was good of you to come this long wa

he lays over anything you ever hear." Harry's eyes flicked nervo

er. Bull gestured t

an he hear

ays. I took a bad turn a while back. Pete's

orts, because he's afraid of what Bull'll do when he gets back on his feet. But Bull has got to know that, even when he's back on his feet, he can't beat Reeve-not while Reeve can pull

, dirty, unshaven face. "I'll just close my eyes ag

these days you take this gun"-here Harry shoved one under the pillow of Bull-"and call Pete Reeve over to you, and when he leans over your bed, blow his brains out! That's easy, and it'll do what yo

," he said at last. "I been thinking things out. I owe a lot to your dad for taking me in and keepi

en to his fee

ever so little. "I'm pretty near dead, but I'm stil

y life. It was your dad that put the wish to kill Reeve into my head with his talk. I met Reeve, and Reeve pumped some bullets with sense into me. He let out some of my life, but he let in a lot of knowledge. Among other things he showed me what a friend might be. He's stayed here and nursed me and talked to me-like I was his equal, almost, instead of being sort of simple, like I really am. And I've made up my mind that I'm going to cut loose from remembering you folks in the mountains. I ain't your kind. I don't want to be your kind. I

ry, shaking with fear, backed toward the other door, then leaped far out, and whirled out o

he said, "and I co

ushed h

," said Pete. "The best thing tha

d. In reality, far more than he