Buck frowned in thought. "Yes," he declared. "But there ’s more ways than one o’ bein’ good. Our way ’d never do for some places, an’ their way ’d never do for us. Th’ quickest man with a short gun I ever knowed an’ one as has killed considerable few, first an’ last, he ’s a good man, ma’am. He would n’t lie, nor steal, nor do a mean act. An’ he never killed a man ’less he was driven to it. I say it an’ I know it. I ’d trust him with my life an’ my honor. An’ there ’s more like him, ma’am, a-plenty." He stood tensely upright, an admirable figure, deep in earnest thought. And she stood watching him, silent, studying his face, absorbing his words with a thirsty soul: the firm conviction of a man who, intuition told her, was sound to the core. "This is a rough country," he continued, "with rough ways. There ’s good men an’ bad men. Th’ bad men are th’ devil’s own an’ it seems like th’ good men are scattered soldiers with a soldier’s work to do. If a bad man takes offence an’ you know he means to get you if he can, it’s plumb foolish to wait till yo ’re shot before you begin shootin’. He did n’t begin with you an’ he shore won’t stop with you, an’ it’s your plain duty to drop him at th’ first threatenin’ move. Mebby you won’t have to kill him, but if you must, you must. I don’t say it’s right but it’s necessary. That’s all, ma’am." He turned to her with a whimsical smile. Her face was alight with a heartfelt gratitude, for Buck, all unknowingly, had exonerated her father, in showing her a new aspect of his doubtful matter from the view-point of a man among men. She passed her hand across her eyes in a swift gesture, then laid it for an instant firmly upon his shoulder. "_Merci, mon ami_," she said quietly. That shoulder, whenever he thought of it, tingled for days after, in a way that to Buck was unaccountable. A moment later Jake appeared. "Ready in two shakes," he promised, referring to the meal. "Can’t you rustle up somethin’ extra, Jake?" asked Buck. "You know we got company." Jake assumed an air of nonchalant capability. "Well, now, I reckon," he answered; in spite of himself a hint of boasting was in his voice. "What do you say to aigs?" "Aigs?" repeated Buck, his eyes widening. "Aigs!" reiterated Jake, complacently. Rose looked on in much amusement while Buck’s astonished stare wandered down half the length of Jake’s lofty height and stopped. "Are you carryin’ ’em in yore pockets?" asked Buck. "In my pockets!" exclaimed Jake. He glanced down. What in blazes did he have in his pockets? A hasty investigation brought forth two large stones. "What in—what are you carryin’ _them_ for?" asked Buck, with lively curiosity.