The recognition was a distinct shock. He stepped backward a pace--recoiled rather, for the movement was as from a thing he detested. Into his mind crowded every detail of his former encounters with this fellow; in the Anchor bunk house and across the road from the saloon in Ranger. They came back vividly--the expression of faces, lights and shadows, even odors, and the calling in him for the help that throttles became agonizing. Rhues misconstrued his emotion. His judgment was warped by the spirit of the bully, and he thought this man feared him. He remembered that defiant interchange of questions, and the laugh that went to VB on their first meeting. He nursed the rankling memory. He had told it about that Avery's tenderfoot was afraid to take a drink--speaking greater truth than he was aware--but his motive had been to discredit VB in the eyes of the countrymen, for he belonged to that ilk who see in debauchery the mark of manhood. Coming now upon the man he had chosen to persecute, and reading fear in VB's eyes, Rhues was made crudely happy. "You don't appear to be overglad to see us," he drawled. VB glanced into the room. A Mexican sat on the table, smoking and swinging his legs; a white man he remembered having seen in Ranger stood behind Rhues. Jed was nowhere about. He looked back at the snaky leer in those half-opened green eyes, and a rage went boiling into his brain. The unmistakable challenge which came from this bully was of the sort that strips from men civilization's veneer. "You've guessed it," he said calmly. "I don't know why I should be glad to see you. These others"--he motioned--"are strangers to me." Then he stepped past Rhues into the room. The man grinned at him as he tossed his hat to a chair and unbuckled the leather cuffs. "But that makes no difference," he went on. "Jed isn't here. It's meal time, and if you men want to eat I'll build a big enough dinner." Rhues laughed, and the mockery in his tone was of the kind that makes the biggest of men forget they can be above insult. "We didn't come here to eat," he said. "We come up to see a horse we heerd about--th' Captain. We heerd Jed caught him." VB started. The thought of Rhues inspecting the stallion, commenting on him, admiring him, was as repulsive to Young VB as would be the thought to a lover of a vile human commenting vulgarly on the sacred body of the woman of women. The Mexican strolled out of the house as VB, turning to the stove, tried to ignore the explanation of their presence. He walked on toward the ponies. A dozen steps from the house he stopped, and called: _"Por Dios, hombre!"_ Rhues and the other followed him, and VB saw them stand together, staring in amazement at the Captain. Then they moved toward the great horse, talking to one another and laughing. VB followed, with a feeling of indignation. The trio advanced, quickening their pace. "Hold on!" he cried in sudden alarm. "Don't go too near; he's dangerous!"