The rider wheeled his horse and rod e back, lending a stirrup to Parnell. Just a s Parnell lifted a foot to the stirrup , Conagher coolly shot again, kicking san d under the horse's belly. The horse lunged, and Parnell, his foo t caught in the stirrup, fell to the sand, an d the plunging horse dragged him twent y feet before its rider calmed the anima l enough for Parnell to get up. Conagher checked his position as he fe d shells into the magazine. He had dismounte d for more accurate shooting, and no w he walked back and mounted up. When h e let his eyes clear the ridge again, the hors e carrying two riders was some distance off , and out of rifle shot. Conagher worked on until sundown , pushing strays back toward the mountains. Once they got into those canyon s where there was plenty of water and goo d grass it would be the devil's own job t o round them up and get them out. And a s he knew, outlaws have no particular driv e toward hard work. It was long after dusk when he starte d back, and midnight before he finally rod e into the ranch yard.
