Author Description

Riding on the trail into Maverick Basin, Hall McIvor is waylaid at gunpoint by the Scarboroughs. Convinced that he is a gunfighter riding to join their enemies, the Bassetts, they take him to an abandoned cliff-dwelling to question him, threatening to hang him. Telling them his name is Hall, he admits that he is searching for someone, but will not tell them the person's name. The Scarboroughs leave him tied to a post, but soon return with another prisoner. After tying this man to another post, they leave the two to consider their fate. Hall's fellow captive is quite talkative, introducing himself as Wahoo Meshackatee. His advice is to forego torture and death and simply join the Scarboroughs. If Hall agrees to do this with him, Meshackatee promises to protect him. Hall rejects this suggestion. He is from the South, where honor is more important than life. He considers the Scarboroughs nothing but criminals and would rather let them hang him before he would consider joining them. Meshackatee warns that could very well happen. When Hall and Meshackatee are allowed to ride into the basin, Hall's statement of neutrality becomes hard to keep when he discovers that the person he has been searching for is living with the Scarboroughs.