"I think so."
"Be Flea lovin' you, or him?"
"She loves him."
"Then it will hurt her like the devil to take her away from him, eh?"
The eagerness expressed in the squatter's tones confirmed Everett's suspicions. Cronk hated that boy and girl. Brimbecomb impassively overlooked Floyd; but Flea he would have!
"Yes," he said, "I think it will hurt them both."
"How much money will ye give if I hand her over to ye?" asked Cronk presently.
"How much do you want?"
"Wal, Mister, it's this way: Ye remember that feller I had with me t'other day?" Everett nodded. "I mean, the feller with the hook?" Again Everett inclined his head. "I said as how he could have Flea. Ye has to buy him off, too, and that ain't so easy as 'tis to settle with me—especially, as ye ain't goin' to marry Flea. I ain't goin' to give her to no man what's honest—ye hear?"
"I supposed as much," commented Everett, reddening.