With staring eyes he looked
at his moist red fingers, then at his latest victim, who was
proving such an unexpected surprise.
The big cattleman, who by this time had pushed a way with his
broad shoulders to the front, observed the two men attentively
with a derisive smile on his frank face. He was seeing a bluff
called, and he enjoyed it.
"You'll be able to wear earrings, Mr. Champion of the Universe,
after I have ventilated the other," suggested the ranger affably.
"Come again, seh."
But his opponent had had enough, and more than enough. It was one
thing to browbeat a harmless boy, quite another to measure
courage with a young gamecock like this. He had all the advantage
of the first move. He was an expert and could drive his first
throw into the youth's heart. But at bottom he was a coward and
lacked the nerve, if not the inclination, to kill. If he took up
that devil-may-care challenge he must fight it out alone.
Moreover, as his furtive glance went round the ring of faces, he
doubted whether a rope and the nearest telegraph pole might not
be his fate if he went the limit. Sourly he accepted defeat,
raging in his craven spirit at the necessity.
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