He straightened himself on his horse, as if to put himself into
discipline at once--as lead to the back of a racer.

Belward read the look. He drew his horse close up. Then he ran an arm
over the other's shoulder.

"See here, Jacques. This is a game that's got to be played up to the
hilt. A cat has nine lives, and most men have two. We have. Now
listen. You never knew me mess things, did you? Well, I play for keeps
in this; no monkeying. I've had the life of Ur of the Chaldees; now for
Babylon. I've lodged with the barbarian; here are the roofs of ivory.
I've had my day with my mother's people; voila! for my father's. You
heard what Becky Lawson said. My father was sick of it at twenty-five,
and got out. We'll see what my father's son will do. . . . I'm going
to say my say to you, and have done with it. As like as not there isn't
another man that I'd have brought with me. You're all right. But I'm
not going to rub noses. I stick when I do stick, but I know what's got
to be done here; and I've told you. You'll not have the fun out of it
that I will, but you won't have the worry. Now, we start fresh. I'm to
be obeyed; I'm Napoleon. I've got a devil, yet it needn't hurt you, and
it won't. But if I make enemies here--and I'm sure to--let them look
out. Give me your hand, Jacques; and don't you forget that there are two
Gaston Belwards, and the one you have hunted and lived with is the one
you want to remember when you get raw with the new one. For you'll hear
no more slang like this from me, and you'll have to get used to lots of
things."

Without waiting reply, Belward urged on his horse, and at last paused on
the top of a hill, and waited for Jacques. It was now dusk, and the