none by callin' me
names. Ain't you got no thankfulness in you? Here I pulled you out of
the drink where you'd washed ashore--an' take you along safe an'
sound--an' yer callin' me a dog!"

"I would rather be dead, a thousand times, than to be here this
minute--with you!"

"Well, you ain't dead--an' you be here. An' if you don't go the limit
with me, yer goin' to wish a thousan' times more that you was a damn
sight deader than you ever will be! You know what I mean! An' you ain't
a damn bit better than what I be, either! If you was you wouldn't of
left yer man an' pulled out with Tex. I've got yer number, so you
might's well throw in with me an' save yerself a whole lot of hell. I've
got more'n what Tex has, anyhow--an' there's plenty more where I git
mine. You might's well know it now, as later--I'm an outlaw! I was
outlawed on account of you--an' it ain't no more'n right you should
share it with me. I've worked on horses up to now, but I'm a-goin' to
branch out! Banks an' railroad trains looks better to me! The name of
Purdy's goin' to be a big name in these parts--an' then all to onct it
won't be heard no more--an' you an' me'll be down in South America
rollin' 'em high!" The man's voice had raised with his boasting, and as
he finished, he pounded his chest with his fist.

During his speech the girl's heart shrivelled within her until it
touched the lowest depths of terror and despair. She cowered against the
horse, pressing her knuckles into her lips till the blood came--and,
suddenly, as he finished, she felt an insane desire to laugh. And she
did laugh, loudly and unnaturally--laughed and pointed a shaking
forefinger into the man's face: "You fool!" she screamed, hysterically,
"_you fool!_ I'm not afraid of you! You're not real! You can't be real!
You remind me of comic opera!"

For a moment the man stared in surprise, and then, with an oath he
grasped her roughly by the arm: "What are you laughin' at? I'm a fool,
be I? I ain't real? When I git through with you, you'll think I'm real
enough! An' I won't put you in mind of no comical opry neither! But,
first, I'm goin' to collect that reward."

"Reward?"

"Yes--reward," snarled the man, releasing her arm with a violent push
that whirled her half way around. Fumbling in his pocket he produced one
of the hand-bills that Long Bill had given him. "There it is--the reward
yer man stuck up for you--though what in hell he wants of you now is
more'n I know. It only