umbed to the thirst it meant a parting with reason and a
frenzy of violence. But when the first savor of the fiery moonshine
stuff had teased his palate and the first warmth had glowed in his
stomach it meant surrender to debauch--and already he had gone too far
to fight the appetite which was his ruin.

Now he stood with the flask to his lips and his head bent back, but
when he had drunk deep he turned and saw the two figures that were
silently observing him.

His eyes were already blood-shot and his cheeks reddened. The motions
of his lithe body were unsteady. With a shamefaced gesture the young
man sought to conceal the flask under his coat, then a fickle change
came to his mood. His head bent down low like a bull's and his
shoulders hulked in a stiffening defiance.

"Spyin' on me, air ye?" The question rasped savagely from his
thickened lips. "Well, damn ther pair of ye, spies desarves what they
gits! I'm a free man an' I don't suffer no bull-dozin' from nobody."

He lurched forward with so threatening an air that Brent stepped a
little to the side and instinctively his hand went to the coat pocket
where he carried a pistol. But Bud ignored him, focussing his
attention upon the mountain man to whom he had come in friendship and
service for the stemming of a disaster. He came with a chin out-thrust
close to the older and bearded face. Truculence and reckless bravado
proclaimed themselves in the pose, as he bulked there. "Wa'al," he
snarled, "ye heered me, didn't ye?"

But McGivins had not altered his attitude. He had not given back a
stride nor moved his arms. Now he spoke quietly.

"I'm sore grieved to see you comin' ter this pass, Bud," he said. "We
all knows what hit means every time. I'm obleeged ter ye fer what
ye've already done--an' I'll ask ye, now, ter go on home afore ye
drinks any more whiskey--or starts any ruction amongst my neighbors."

"So thet's hit, air hit?" Bud rocked a little on his feet as he stood
confronting the steady challenge of Aaron McGivins. "So ye lets a man
work slavish fer ye all day, and then starts in faultin' him ef he
takes a drink at sun-down. Well damn ye, I don't aim ter go nowhars
tell I'm ready an' ambitious ter go--does ye hear thet or does I hev
ter tell ye again?"

With a very deliberate motion McGivins lifted one arm and pointed it
towards the west--that way lay the nearest boundary of his tract.

"I've done asked ye plum civil ter go, because e