from her and now cowered at the far side of the wretched den. At
that moment she was strangely thrilled. What was his power, this
strong, silent man of the open with his deep reverence for pure
American womanhood? True, her culture demanded a gentleman, but her
heart demanded a man. Her eyes softened and fell before his cool,
keen gaze, and a blush mantled her fair cheek. Could he but have
known it, she stood then in meek surrender before this soft-voiced
master. A tremor swept the honest rugged face of Buck Benson as
heart thus called to heart. But his keen eyes flitted to Snake le
Vasquez.

"Now, curse you, viper that you are, you shall fight me, by heaven!
in American fashion, man to man, for, foul though you be, I hesitate
to put a bullet through your craven heart."

The beautiful girl shivered with new apprehension, the eyes of Snake
le Vasquez glittered with new hope. He faced his steely eyed
opponent for an instant only, then with a snarl like that of an
angry beast sprang upon him. Benson met the cowardly attack with the
flash of a powerful fist, and the outlaw fell to the floor with a
hoarse cry of rage and pain. But he was quickly upon his feet again,
muttering curses, and again he attacked his grim-faced antagonist.
Quick blows rained upon his defenseless face, for the strong, silent
man was now fairly aroused. He fought like a demon, perhaps divining
that here strong men battled for a good woman's love. The outlaw was
proving to be no match for his opponent. Arising from the ground
where a mighty blow had sent him, he made a lightning-like effort to
recover the knife which Benson had taken from him.

"Have a care!" cried the girl in quick alarm. "That fiend in human