t for a look or a word--whether his opponent is ready or
not--is not being a desperado. I do not know what is. But excuse me. He
may be a friend of yours."

"Oh, no," said Pond, with some confusion in his manner. "But a very dear
friend of mine married him not long since, and for her sake I feel a
sort of interest in the man. I fancied that he was rather wild when
under the influence of liquor, but for all, a brave and generous man,
when truly himself."

"Brave, as brutes are, when he feels he has the power to _kill_ in his
hands; but _generous?_ _Never!_" said Miss Neidic.

"You are his enemy."

"No; for he has never done me, personally, an injury; but he has injured
friends of mine--sent more than one down to untimely graves."

"There, I said it--you are his enemy, because of what he has done to
your friends.

"I am _not_ his friend, nor do I wish to be the friend of such a man.
But the enmity of a woman is nothing to him. He looks for friends among
such men as he now consorts with--California Joe, Sam Chichester, and
that crowd. I know but one real gentleman in the party, and that one is
Jack Crawford."

"I know none of them."

"You lose nothing, then, for it is little honor one gains by such
acquaintances. They suit Wild Bill, for they drink, gamble, and shoot on
little cause; they are ready for any adventure, never stopping to count
risks or look back when evil is commenced or ruin wrought, no matter
what may be its nature."

The entrance of the young Texans now caused a change in the topic of
conversation.

"I have learned when that party start." he said. "They are making their
final preparations to-night, and will break camp in this morning early
enough to make Twenty-mills Creek for their first night's halt--probably
about ten o'clock."

"Do you propose to go ahead of them?" asked Pond.

"No; it will be more easy and safe to fellow their trail. They will not
have over fifty animals all told, and there will be lots of feed left
for us even if we keep close by. And we can get as much game as we need
any time, for we can use but little. One pack horse will carry all our
stuff, and still be able to travel at speed, if need be."

"You understand it better than I," said Pond. "Arrange things to suit
yourself, and I will conform to your plans."

"All right. You had better turn in early, so as to get a good rest. For
after we are out, long rides and night-watches will tell on you, for you
are not used