s from
first to last. You see me at a stand, friend Mayer, doubtful if it were
not the part of wisdom to transfer my obedience to Eric hereafter."

"For every word of that, Johnson would pay you a gold piece, and have a
rare bargain of it." Zurich's voice was hard; his eye was hard. "Is this
a time for quarreling among ourselves? There may be millions at stake,
for all we know, and you would set us at loggerheads in a fit of spleen,
like a little peevish boy. I'm ashamed of you! Get your horse and ride
off the sulks. If you feel spiteful, take it out on Johnson. Get yourself
a pack outfit and go find his mine."

"I'm no prospector," said the gambler disdainfully.

"No. I will tell you what you are." Tall Eric rose and towered above
Dewing at the window; the sun streamed on his bright hair, "You are a
crack-brained fool to tempt my hands to your throat! You will do it once
too often yet. You a prospector? You never saw the day you had the
makin's of a prospector in you."

"Let other men do the work and take the risk while I take the gain, and
it's little I care for your opinion," rejoined Dewing. "And you would do
well to keep your hands from my throat when my hand is in my coat
pocket--as is the case at this present instant."

"This thing has gone far enough," said Zurich. "Anderson, come back and
sit down. Dewing, go and fork that horse of yours and ride the black
devil out of your heart."

"I have a thing to say, first," said Eric. "Dewing, you sought to begowk
me by setting me up against Zurich--or perhaps you really thought to use
me against him. Well, you won't! When we want the information about the
man that has been harryin' young Mitchell, Zurich will tell us. We know
too much about Zurich for him to deny us our askings. But, for your mock
at me, I want you both to know two things: The first is, I desire no
headship for myself; the second is this--I take Zurich's orders because
I think he has the best head, as a usual thing; and I follow those orders
exactly so far as I please, and no step more. I am mean and worthless
because I choose to be and not at all because Mayer Zurich led me astray.
Got that, now?"

"If you're quite through," said Dewing, "I'll take that ride."

The door closed behind him.

"Disappointed! Had his mouth fixed for a million or so, and didn't get
it; couldn't stand the gaff; made him ugly," said Zurich slowly. "And
when Dewing is ugly he is unbearable; absolutely the limit."

"