"Can you fight?"
"I can try."
"Bully for you, pard; that's the stuff! Shake."
The two men shook hands warmly. Jake and his companion were now very near, and as they came up Jake pulled a large revolver from its holster.
"Now, girl, get away from that dog; I'm goin' to shoot him and I don't want to hurt yer."
The girl turned white, but she placed herself in front of Rover, shielding him as much as she could with her slender body.
"Hold on, my friend," interposed the Cowboy; "you mus'n't shoot that dog."
"Who's goin' to stop me?" sneered Jake.
"I am."