Radford had been warned to vacate Bear Flat, but the warning had been disregarded.
But one other course was left, and Stafford had adopted that.

There had been no hesitancy on the manager's part; he must protect the Two Diamond property.

Sentiment had no place in the situation whatever.
Therefore toward Ferguson's movements Stafford adopted an air of studied indifference, not doubting, from what he had seen of the man, that he would eventually ride in and report that the work which he had been hired to do was finished.
Toward the latter end of the week the wagon outfit straggled in.

They came in singly, in twos and threes, bronzed, hardy, seasoned young men, taciturn, serene eyed, capable.

They continued to come until there were twenty-seven of them.