Sometimes they enforced their law by being lawless themselves.
They made a man be good if they had to hang him to do it.

The law was weak.

By harsh, rough treatment--as a tigress might treat its cub--they made it strong.

And when the law was strong and able to care for itself--again like the tigress--they allowed it to do so; the vigilantes disbanded.
The Bar O mustered about ten men.

The rider of the fastest horse dashed ahead to the Junction, to get reenforcements to join the ranchmen on their way to the scene of action.