let rip. I 'lows you'll fall first 'cause I'm goin'
to kill you--sure. Say, you'll 'blige me by gittin' off'n that plug."

The half-breed made no move. His unconcern was leaving him under the
deliberate purpose of this man.

"Git off o' that plug!" Arizona roared out his command with all the
force of his suppressed passion.

The man obeyed instantly. And it was plain now that his courage was
deserting him. But in proportion his cunning rose. He made a pitiful
attempt at swagger as he walked up to his mark, and his fierce eyes
watched every movement of his opponent. And Arizona's evident
condition of starvation struck him forcibly, and the realization of
it suggested to his scheming brain a possible means of escape.

"You mighty fine givin' chances, mister," he said, between his teeth.
"Maybe you sing different later. Bah! you make me laff. Say, I ready."

"Yes, git right ahead an' laff," Arizona replied imperturbably. "An'
meanwhiles while you're laffin', I'll trouble you to git out o' that
sheep's hide. It ain't fit clothin' fer you noways. Howsum, it helps
to thicken your hide. Take it off."

The half-breed obeyed and the two men now stood motionless. Arizona
was an impressive figure in that world of snow. Never before had his
personality been so marked. It may have been the purpose that moved
him that raised him to something superior to the lean, volcanic cowboy
he had hitherto been. His old slouching gait, in spite of his evident
weakness, was quite gone; his shaggy head was held erect, and he gazed
upon his enemy with eyes which the other could not face. For the time,
at least, the indelible stamp of his disastrous life was disguised by
the fire of his eyes and the set of his features. And this moral
strength he conveyed in every action in a manner which no violence, no
extent of vocabulary could have done. This man before him had robbed
him of the woman he had loved. He should die.

His pistol was still in his hand.

"When I say 'three,' you'll jest grab for your gun--an' fire," he said
solemnly.

He relapsed into silence, and, after a moment's pause, slowly stooped
to deposit his weapon. His great roving eyes never relaxed their
vigilance, and all the while he watched the man before him.

Lower he bent, and the pistol touched the ground. He straightened up
swiftly and stood ready.

"One!"

The half-breed started as though a sharp spasm of pain had convulsed
his body. Then he stood as if about to sp