Gulden raised his massive head and asked, or rather growled, in a
heavy voice what the fuss was about. His query, his roused presence,
seemed to act upon the others, even Kells, with a strange,
disquieting or halting force, as if here was a character or an
obstacle to be considered. After a moment of silence Red Pearce
explained the project.

"Huh! Nothing new in that," replied Gulden. "I belonged to one once.
It was in Algiers. They called it the Royal Legion."

"Algiers. What's thet?" asked Bate Wood.

"Africa," replied Gulden.

"Say, Gul, you've been around some," said Red Pearce, admiringly.
"What was the Royal Legion?"

"Nothing but a lot of devils from all over. The border there was the
last place. Every criminal was safe from pursuit."

"What'd you do?"

"Fought among ourselves. Wasn't many in the Legion when I left."

"Shore thet ain't strange!" exclaimed Wood, significantly. But his
inference was lost upon Gulden.

"I won't allow fighting in my Legion," said Kells, coolly. "I'll
pick this band myself."