you're doing it. When he bought me out, what was there for me to do but
go into the only business I knew, with the only big man in the business,
besides John Grier. I've as good blood as he's got in his veins. I do
business straight.

"He didn't want me to do it straight. That's one of the reasons we fell
out. John Grier's a big, ruthless trickster. I wasn't. I was for
playing the straight game, and I played it."

"Well, he's got his own way now. He's got a man who wouldn't blink at
throttling his own brother, if it'd do him any good. Tarboe is iron and
steel; he's the kind that succeeds. He likes to rule, and he's going to
get what he wants mostly."

"Is that why you're going away?" asked Fabian. "Don't you think it'll
be just as well not to go, if Tarboe is going to get all he wants?"

"Does Tarboe come here?"

"He's been here twice."

"Visiting?"

"No. He came on urgent business. There was trouble between our two
river-driving camps. He wanted my help to straighten things out, and he
got it. He's pretty quick on the move."

"He wanted you to let him settle it?"

"He settled it, and I agreed. He knows how to handle men; I'll say that