"I don't know," said Haines gravely, "he looks to me sort of
queer--sort of different--damned different, chief!"

By this time Dan had secured a second gun which suited him. He whirled
both guns, tried their actions alternately, and then announced that he
was ready. In the dead silence, one of the men paced off the twenty
yards.

Dan, with his back turned, stood at the mark, shifting his revolvers
easily in his hands, and smiling down at them as if they could
understand his caress.

"How you feelin', Dan?" asked Morgan anxiously.

"Everything fine," he answered.

"Are you gettin' weak?"

"No, I'm all right."

"Steady up, partner."

"Steady up? Look at my hand!"

Dan extended his arm. There was not a quiver in it.

"All right, Dan. When you're shootin', remember that I got pretty
close to everything I own staked on you. There's the stranger gettin'
his four dollars ready."