"I tell you I seen it!" called an angry voice from a corner.

"You must of been drunk an' seein' double, partner," drawled the
answer.

"Look here!" said the first man, "I'm willin' to take that any way you
mean it!"

"An' I'm willin'," said the other, "that you should take it any way
you damn please."

Everyone in the room was grave except Jim Silent and his three
companions, who were smiling grimly.

"By God, Jack," said the first man with ominous softness, "I'll take a
lot from you but when it comes to doubtin' my word----"

Morgan, with popping eyes and a very red face, slapped his hand on
the bar and vaulted over it with more agility than his plumpness
warranted. He shouldered his way hurriedly through the crowd to the
rapidly widening circle around the two disputants. They stood with
their right hands resting with rigid fingers low down on their hips,
and their eyes, fixed on each other, forgot the rest of the world.
Morgan burst in between them.

"Look here," he thundered, "it's only by way of a favour that I'm
lettin' you boys wear shootin' irons today because I promised old
Cumberland there wouldn't be no fuss. If you got troubles there's
enough room for you to settle them out in the hills, but there ain't