There were no supporters following the three men, no deploying groups seeking to flank them.

A moment more, and Ba'tiste, with a sudden exclamation, allowed his cant hook to drop to the ground.
"Wade!" "Who ?" Houston came closer.
"Eet is Thayer and Wade, the sheriff from Montview, and his deputy.
Peuff! Have he fool heem too ?" Closer they came, and the sheriff waved a hand in friendly greeting.
Ba'tiste returned the gesture.

Thayer, scowling, black-faced, dropped slightly to the rear, allowing the two officials to take the lead--and evidently do the talking.

The sheriff grinned as he noticed the cant hook on the ground.

Then he looked up at Ba'tiste Renaud.
"What's been going on here ?" "This man," Ba'tiste nodded grudgingly toward the angular form of Fred Thayer, "heem a what-you-say a big bomb.