ttle yourself."

But Angus refused, principally because he had no money to lose. They
went down to the lobby. This was crowded. Blake French, standing on a
chair, was flourishing a sheaf of bills, offering even money as his
brothers had done. He had been drinking, and his remarks seemed to be
directed at some certain person or persons.

Looking over the heads of the crowd, Angus saw Dorgan and Paul Sam
standing together. The old Indian, bare-headed, his gray braids hanging
in front of either shoulder, wearing a blanket coat, skin-tight leggins
and brand-new moccasins, made an incongruous figure. The two, seeing
Angus, made their way toward him.

"That bird," said Dorgan nodding toward Blake, "is makin' a cinch offer.
Take all you can get. The old boy, here, was just waitin' for you to
hold the bets."

"S'pose you hold money, me bet him now," Paul Sam confirmed.

"Come on, come on!" Blake vociferated from his perch. "Put up a bet on
your--cayuse. Here's real money. Come and get it!"

Dorgan turned to face him.

"You're makin' a whole lot of noise on that handful of chicken feed," he
observed.

"Come and take it then," Blake retorted. "They tell me you used to ride
for white men once."

"Well, that never gave _you_ no first call on me!" Dorgan shot back.

Somebody laughed, and Blake's temper, always ugly, flared up.

"Keep a civil tongue in your head, you down-and-outer, or I'll throw you
out!" he rasped.

But Dorgan was not awed by the threat, nor by the size of the man who
made it.

"Your own tongue ain't workin' none too smooth," he retorted. "Throw me
out, hey? About all you'll throw will be a D. T. fit. A hunk of mice
bait, that's about what you are, color and all."

With an oath Blake leaped from his chair, sending it crashing behind
him. Perfectly game, little Dorgan crouched to meet the rush, in an
attitude which showed a certain experience.

But Angus, cursing the luck which seemed to lead him athwart Blake,
stepped between them.

"Hold on, now," he said. "You mustn't----"

"Get out of my way!" Blake roared.

"Now wait!" Angus insisted pacifically. "It wouldn't----"

But Blake struck at him. Angus dodged and clinched. But as he began to
shove Blake back Gavin's great arms were thrust between them.

"Let go, Mackay," he said. "Quit it!" he commanded Blake.

"I'll show that runt he can't insult me!" the latter frothed. "Yes, and
Mackay, too. Turn me loose, Gan----"

"You can't beat up t