If he had intelligence and remembered Steele's fame, which surely he had, then he had some appreciation of what he had undertaken.
In that momentary lull my scrutiny of Sampson gathered an impression of the man's intense curiosity.
Then Bud Snell, with a cough that broke the silence, shuffled a couple of steps toward the door.
"Hold on!" called Steele.
It was a bugle-call.

It halted Snell as if it had been a bullet.

He seemed to shrink.
"Sampson, I _saw_ Snell attack Hoden," said Steele, his voice still ringing.

"What has the court to say to that ?" The moment for open rupture between Ranger Service and Sampson's idea of law was at hand.

Sampson showed not the slightest hesitation.
"The court has to say this: West of the Pecos we'll not aid or abet or accept any Ranger Service.