The sheepman fell back. “I think I’ll ride alone.”
Rage flared in the other’s eye. “Too good for me, are y’u, my mealy-mouthed cousin? Y’u always thought yourself better than me. When y’u were a boy you used to go sneaking to that old hypocrite, your grandfather—”
“You have said enough,” interrupted the other sternly. “I’ll not hear another word. Keep your foul tongue off him.”
Their eyes silently measured strength.
“Y’u’ll not hear a word!” sneered the chief of the rustlers. “What will y’u do, dear cousin?
“Stand up and fight like a man and settle this thing once for all.”
Still their steely eyes crossed as with the thrust of rapiers. The challenged man crouched tensely with a mighty longing for the test, but he had planned a more elaborate revenge and a surer one than this. Reluctantly he shook his head.
“Why should I? Y’u’re mine. We’re four to two, and soon we’ll be a dozen to two. I’d like a heap to oblige y’u, but I reckon I can’t afford to just now. Y’u will have to wait a little for that bumping off that’s coming to y’u.”
“In that event I’ll trouble you not to inflict your society on me any more than is necessary.”
“That’s all right, too. If y’u think I enjoy your conversation y’u have got another guess coming.”