afraid.

"The biggest man in this room is after your blood."

"Is he?" said Dan wonderingly. "I'm sorry I don't feel like leavin',
but I'm not tired of this place yet."

"Friend," said Haines, "if that tall man puts his hands on you, he'll
break you across his knee like a rotten stick of wood!"

It was too late. Silent evidently guessed that Haines was urging his
quarry to flee.

"Hey!" he roared, so that all heads turned towards him, "you over
there."

Haines stepped back, sick at heart. He knew that it would be folly to
meet his chief hand to hand, but he thought of his pledge to Kate, and
groaned.

"What do you want of me?" asked Dan, for the pointed arm left no doubt
as to whom Silent intended.

"Get up when you're spoke to" cried Silent. "Ain't you learned no
manners? An' git up quick!"

Dan rose, smiling his surprise.

"Your friend has a sort of queer way of talkin'," he said to Haines.