You're admittin' that I've had some chance."

Radford sneered. "I ain't wondering why you ain't done it before," he
said. "Mebbe it was because you're too white livered. Mebbe you
thought you didn't see your chance. I ain't worrying none about why
you didn't do it. But you ain't going to get another chance." The
weapon came to a foreboding level.

Ferguson laughed grimly, but there was an ironic quality in his voice
that caught Radford's ear. It seemed to Radford that the stray-man
knew that he was near death, and yet some particular phase of the
situation appealed to his humor--grim though it was. It came out when
the stray-man spoke.

"You've been gassin' just now about shootin' people in the back--sayin'
that I've been thinkin' of doin' it. But I reckon you ain't thought a
lot about the way you're intendin' to put me out of business. I was
wonderin' if it made any difference--shootin' a man in the back or
shootin' him when he ain't got any guns. I expect a man that's shot
when he ain't got guns would be just as dead as a man that's shot in
the back, wouldn't he?"

He laughed again, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. "That's the
reason I ain't scared a heap," he said. "From what I know about you
you ain't the man to shoot another without givin' him a chance. An'
you're givin' me a chance to talk. I ain't goin' to do any prayin'. I
reckon that's right?"

Radford shifted his feet uneasily. He could not have told at that
moment whether or not he had intended to murder Ferguson. He had
waylaid him with that intention, utterly forgetful that by shooting the
stray-man he would be committing the very crime which he had accused
Ferguson of contemplating. The muzzle of his weapon drooped
uncertainly.

"Talk quick!" he said shortly.

Ferguson grinned. "I'm takin' my time," he returned. "There ain't any
use of bein' in such an awful hurry--time don't amount to much when a
man's talkin' for his life. I ain't askin' who told you what you've
said about me--I've got a pretty clear idea who it was. I've had to
tell a man pretty plain that my age has got its growth an' I don't
think that man is admirin' me much for bein' told. But if he's wantin'
to have me put out of business he's goin' to do the job himself--Ben
Radford ain't doin' it."

While he had been talking he had contrived to throw the left side of
his vest open, and his right hand was exposed in the dim light--a heavy
six-shooter gleaming