"Why?" asked Joan, curiously.

"Pearce and Wood and Beard, all men I rely on, said it won't do.
They hint Gulden is strong with my gang here, and all through the
border. I was wild. I don't believe it. But as I'm not sure--what
can I do? ... They're all afraid of Gulden. That's it. ... And I
believe I am, too."

"You!" exclaimed Joan.

Kells actually looked ashamed. "I believe I am, Joan," he replied.
"That Gulden is not a man. I never was afraid of a real man. He's--
he's an animal."

"He made me think of a gorrilla," said Joan.

"There's only one man I know who's not afraid of Gulden. He's a new-
comer here on the border. Jim Cleve he calls himself. A youngster I
can't figure! But he'd slap the devil himself in the face. Cleve
won't last long out here. Yet you can never tell. Men like him, who
laugh at death, sometimes avert it for long. I was that way once. ...
Cleve heard me talking to Pearce about Gulden. And he said,
'Kells, I'll pick a fight with this Gulden and drive him out of the
camp or kill him.'"

"What did you say?" queried Joan, trying to steady her voice as she
averted her eyes.

"I said 'Jim, that wins me. But I don't want you killed.' ... It