"
He wondered if she had gone back to settle the matter with Bateese
at once, for it was clear that she did not regard with favor the
promised bout between himself and the half-breed. It was on the
spur of a careless moment that he had promised to fight Bateese,
and with little thought that it was likely to be carried out or
that it would become a matter of importance with all of St.
Pierre's brigade. He was evidently in for it, he told himself, and
as a fighting man it looked as though Concombre Bateese was at
least the equal of his braggadocio. He was glad of that. He
grinned as he watched the bending backs of St. Pierre's men. So
they were betting thirty to one against him! Even St. Pierre might
be induced to bet--with HIM. And if he did--
The hot blood leaped for a moment in Carrigan's veins. The thrill
went to the tips of his fingers. He stared out over the river,
unseeing, as the possibilities of the thing that had come into his
mind made him for a moment oblivious of the world. He possessed
one thing against which St. Pierre and St. Pierre's wife would
wager a half of all they owned in the world! And if he should
gamble that one thing, which had come to him like an inspiration,
and should whip Bateese--
He began to pace back and forth over the narrow deck, no longer
watching the rowers or the shore.
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