A little later she raised her horn and looking the stranger in the
face, said:

'I pledge you welcome, sir; will you drink good-will and long
friendship with me?'

Roland, as we have seen, had from the first resolved to make the
best of the deplorable set, so with easy courtesy and good nature, he
raised his horn and said, 'I drink with pleasure.' But before he had
swallowed his sip Joe had risen from his seat and reached his side;
and without word or warning dealt him a severe blow on the head.
Roland's blood boiled in his veins and were his life the issue ten
times over he would not submit to the indignity. He sprang from his
chair, weak though he was from his wound.

'Infamous ruffian,' he thundered, 'How do you dare?' and striking
the desperado once, twice, upon the temple felled him like a beast
upon the turf. For a moment the villain lay, as if he had received
his death-blow; then he moved, raised himself, and was upon his feet
again. At first he reeled and staggered, though not from brandy; and
putting his hand to his hip he drew his knife. Roland saw the
reflection of the glittering blade flash upon the front of the sombre
forest; but he did not move. The miscreant approached him with his
weapon raised; but our hero was prepared. Drawing his pistol he
cocked it. 'One step forward and I blow your brains out.' Further
mishap was prevented by the chief who sprang between the two.

'Enough,' he cried, raising his hand, 'replace your weapons; and
reserve them for other uses. You have my congratulations, youngster.
You are the right stuff; just such metal as we want here. As for you,