ery
outfit, an' you'll know them chiefly by their bray an' their long,
hairy ears."

The young man now smiled into his plate, while a chorus of laughter
rose around him. In making himself appear as ridiculous a figure as
the others, the young man had successfully extracted all the sting from
his story and gained the applause of even those at whom he had struck.

But now a sound was heard outside, and Leviatt came into the room. He
nodded shortly and took his place at the end of the table. A certain
reserve came into the atmosphere of the room. No further reference was
made to the subject that had aroused laughter, but several of the men
snickered into their plates over the recollection of Leviatt's
connection with the incident.

As the meal continued Leviatt's gaze wandered over the table, resting
finally upon Ferguson. The range boss's face darkened.

Ferguson had seen Leviatt enter; several times during the course of the
meal he felt Leviatt looking at him. Once, toward the end, his glance
met the range boss's fairly. Leviatt's eyes glittered evilly;
Ferguson's lips curled with a slight contempt.

And yet these men had met but twice before. A man meets another in
North America--in the Antipodes. He looks upon him, meets his eye, and
instantly has won a friend or made an enemy. Perhaps this will always
be true of men. Certainly it was true of Ferguson and the range boss.

What force was at work in Leviatt when in Dry Bottom he had insulted
Ferguson? Whatever the force, it had told him that the steady-eyed,
deliberate gun-man was henceforth to be an enemy. Enmity, hatred, evil
intent, shone out of his eyes as they met Ferguson's.

Beyond the slight curl of the lips the latter gave no indication of
feeling. And after the exchange of glances he resumed eating,
apparently unaware of Leviatt's existence.

Later, the men straggled from the bunkhouse, seeking the outdoors to
smoke and talk. Upon the bench just outside the door several of the
men sat; others stood at a little distance, or lounged in the doorway.
With Rope, Ferguson had come out and was standing near the door,
talking.

The talk was light, turning to trivial incidents of the day's
work--things that are the monotony of the cowboy life.

Presently Leviatt came out and joined the group. He stood near
Ferguson, mingling his voice with the others. For a little time the
talk flowed easily and much laughter rose. Then suddenly above the