"Manners! What manners?"

"When you approach a superior officer, of course."

"Oh, you mean the salute. I have heard of it, but never saw it given."

"What! you never saluted any one; not even the King's purveyor?"

"No. Where I live we are all equal when it comes to that. We never
bother about such things. The only salute I know is the kind I handed
out to those slashers a short time ago when they tried to take that
message from me."

"Where was that?" the Major questioned.

"Just over there along that road," and Dane motioned to the right.

"Where are they now?"

"I think two are busy nursing their faces, while the third is hiding
somewhere around the trading post. He was running that way the last
time I saw him."

"And you defeated the three of them single-handed?"

"Why, that was nothing. I would be a mighty poor courier if I couldn't
take care of myself, especially when slashers are around."

A bright smile illumined the Major's face as he held out his right hand.