s. Some of them spoke to one another in low tones,
and there could be no doubt they looked with envy upon the animals,
which, tiring of their confinement in the ravine, had come forth as if
with the purpose of passing under review, on their way to crop the
grass from which they had been driven.

"Colonel," called one of the men behind him, "them is likely
animals."

"I had obsarved that fact myself; strangers, I've made up my mind to
buy them critters; what's your price?"

"They are not for sale," replied Captain Dawson.

"Why not?"

"We need them for our own use."

"Then we'll trade."

"You won't do anything of the kind," said the captain, speaking with
the utmost coolness, but with that paling of the countenance and
glitter of the eyes that Colonel Briggs would have done well to heed.

"Strikes me, stranger, you're rather peart in your observations," said
the leader with an odd chuckle; "we ain't used to having people speak
to us in that style."

"It is my custom to say what I mean; it saves misunderstanding."

"It's my opinion, stranger, you'd better say trade."

"It is of no importance to me what your opinion is; we need the horses
and the mule for our own use and we shall keep them."

"But you've got one more than you want."

"He belongs to a friend who is not far off and will soon return; we
can't spare one of them."

"If we give you four of ours for the lot, that'll make an even thing
of it. Besides, we'll throw in something to boot."

"I wouldn't give one of the horse's shoes for all the trash you have
piled on top of your animals; the stuff isn't worth house room, but it
is what I should expect to see in the hands of a lot of tramps like
you and yours; I wouldn't trade our mule for the whole party which, to
judge by their looks, ought to be in jail."

Brush and Ruggles were amazed to hear the captain use such language,
for it sounded as if he was trying to provoke instead of avoid a
fight. The truth was the veteran was thoroughly enraged by the
evident purpose of the fellow before him. Although his voice was low
and deliberate, the captain's temper was at a white heat. The point
had been reached where a desperate struggle seemed unavoidable, and he
wished to precipitate the crisis, inasmuch as it had to come.

Colonel Briggs did not laugh, but turning his head, talked for a
minute with the man nearest him, their words so low that no one else
heard them. Then the leader turned back in a qui