Raoul sensed that Auguste's words were aimed not at him, but at the men behind him. He felt angry, trapped.
Shoot, dammit! Shut him up.
No, it's too late. All these men heard what he said.
"You're afraid to fight me man to man. I challenged you the day you drove me away from Victoire, and you backed down. I challenge you again, Raoul."
An answer sprang into Raoul's mind. "I accept. Let the weapons be your neck and a rope."
But even as he spoke he had a sinking, uneasy feeling.
He did not hear any of his men laughing.
Armand said, "What the hell, Raoul. You've killed hundreds of Indians, some of them a lot bigger than this one. Give him his duel."
For a moment Raoul felt like turning his pistol on Armand. The overseer was paying him back, he realized, for the contempt he'd endured.
"I'm ready to meet you now or any time, mongrel. Let it be tonight. But where there will be no witnesses to charge the winner with murder."