The lawless element, both native to Linrock and the visitors, followed in Blome's tracks from saloon to saloon.

How often had I seen this sort of procession, though not on so large a scale, in many towns of wild Texas! The two great and dangerous things in Linrock at the hour were whisky and guns.

Under such conditions the rustlers were capable of any mad act of folly.
Morton and his men sent word flying around town that a fight was imminent and all citizens should be prepared to defend their homes against possible violence.

But despite his warning I saw many respectable citizens abroad whose quiet, unobtrusive manner and watchful eyes and hard faces told me that when trouble began they wanted to be there.

Verily Ranger Steele had built his house of service upon a rock.
It did not seem too much to say that the next few days, perhaps hours, would see a great change in the character and a proportionate decrease in number of the inhabitants of this corner of Pecos County.
Morton and I were in the crowd that watched Blome, Snecker, and a dozen other rustlers march down to Steele's jail.