Neale heard the same narrative from the lips of Ancliffe, and it

differed only in the essential details of the cowboy's consummate

coolness. Ancliffe, who was an eye-witness of the encounter,

declared that drink or passion or bravado had no part in determining

Larry's conduct. Ancliffe talked at length about the cowboy.

Evidently he had been struck with Larry's singular manner and look

and action. Ancliffe had all an Englishman's intelligent observing

powers, and the conclusion he drew was that Larry had reacted to a

situation familiar to him.

Neale took more credence in what Slingerland had told him at

Medicine Bow. That night Hough and then many other acquaintances

halted Neale to gossip about Larry Reel King.

The cowboy had been recognized by Texans visiting Benton. They were

cattle barons and they did not speak freely of King until ready to

depart from the town. Larry's right name was Fisher. He had a

brother--a famous Texas outlaw called King Fisher. Larry had always

been Red Fisher, and when he left Texas he was on the way to become

as famous as his brother. Texas had never been too hot for Red until

he killed a sheriff. He was a born gun-fighter, and was well known

on all the ranches from the Pan Handle to the Rio Grande. He had

many friends, he was a great horseman, a fine cowman. He had never

been notorious for bad habits or ugly temper. Only he had an itch to

throw a gun and he was unlucky in always running into trouble.

Trouble gravitated to him. His red head was a target for abuse, and

he was sensitive and dangerous because of that very thing. Texas,

the land of gunfighters, had seen few who were equal to him in cool

nerve and keen eye and swift hand.