BACK FROM THE SIERRA 12

the next day billy and j.t. had planed a big circle they would each work their way down to the san pedro then turn toward each other and croos at the river. when billy had left that morning he had his rifle out, cleaned and loaded with the magazine full.and his ammunition belt full. j.t. thought" he must sure be mad at that lion : as he rode away on his circle. as he rode west toward the river he was zig zaging through the grease wood and creosote , mesquite and cat claw.. it grew thicker as he neared the river. occasionaly he would see where the stake chain on the lion trap was dragging behind the lion. that lion track was the biggest he had ever seen he thought to himself" that lion must weight 250 pounds!" on reaching the river he came up on a deer the lion had killed. he had eaten from the shoulder and neck then left it. j.t.knew mountain lions wouldnt waste a kill, they would hide it and come back later.. but this deer was right out in the open." that lion must be a bad hombre to do that"j.t. thought as he rode by he should be meeting up with billy at any time. the san pedro had a small stream of water here it was pleasent rideing along under the shade of the cotton wood trees and seeing cattle every so often watering in the stram. l.t. knew the river could be quick sand in spots but found no cattle bogged. after a hour of rideing through the brush along the river he turned up onto the bank and rode right into a mess. before him sat three men on their horses, their hands up above their heads. in front of the sat billy on his horse, his rifle pointed at the middle rifer. as he rode up j.t. pulled his rifle and pointed it at the men. " whats upp boss?" he asked found these boys with 20 head of my cattle headed toward tombstone.i think ill ride along with them over to tombstone but we will leave the cattle here.."billy wiggled his rifle at the cowboys. " when we move away you pick up their harware and bring it along will you?" jt said he would. " ok you boys lower your hands and rest them on your saddle hornes. run your reins through your fingers. if you take your hands off the saddle horn without telling me first ill kil you plain and simple.. anyone got any questions?" billy instructed. the three turnned their horses together and headed south. when they were clear of the guns on the ground j.t. picked them all up and hung them on his saddle. he struck a trot and pulled up on the river side of the three his rifle laying in his lap and pointing toward the three rustlers. no one said a word all the way to tombstone. as they approached town billy pointed down allen street with his rifle barrel" that ways boys. right on down the middle of the street to the sherrifs office" the rustler in the middle shot a hard look at billy from his squinted eyes but slowley turned his horse down allen, right down the middle of the street. billy paraded them for everyone to see. j.t. rode along to one side but said nothing . when they reached the sherriffs office billy had the three rustlers line up in front of the jail. they sat there with out a sound. a man was walking along the street and billy asked him to get the deputy out of the jail.