Then Jed Avery pulled up his horse in a shower of dust, and VB, his rage choking down words, turned to lead the Captain into the corral. The animal nosed him fiercely and pulled back to look at Rhues, who, under the crude ministrations of his two companions, had taken on a semblance of life. A moment later VB returned from the inclosure, bearing his riding equipment. He said to Jed: "This man insulted the Captain. I had to whip him." Then he walked to the wagon shed, dropped his saddle in its shelter, and came back. Rhues sat up and, as VB approached, got to his feet. He lurched forward as if to rush his enemy, but the Mexican caught him and held him back. VB stood, hands on hips, and glared at him. He said: "No, I wouldn't come again if I were you. I don't want to have to smash you again. I'd enjoy it in a way, but when a man is knocked out he's whipped--in my country--judged by the standards we set there. "You're a coward, Rhues--a dirty, sneaking, low-down coward! Every gun-man is a coward. It's no way to settle disputes--gun fighting." He glared at the fellow before him, who swore under his breath but who could not summon the courage to strike. "You're a coward, and I hope I've impressed that on you," VB went on, "and you'll take a coward's advantage. Hereafter I'm going to carry a gun. You won't fight in my way because you're not a man, so I'll have to be prepared for you in your way. I just want to let you know that I understand your breed! That's all. "Don't start anything, because I'll fight in two ways hereafter--in my way and in yours. And that goes for you other two. If you run with this--this _thing_, it marks you. I know what would have happened if Jed hadn't come up. You'd have killed me! That's the sort you are. Remember--all three of you--I'm not afraid, but it's a case of fighting fire with fire. I'll be ready." Rhues stood, as though waiting for more. When VB did not go on he said, just above a whisper: "I'll get you--yet!" And VB answered, "Then I guess we all understand one another." When the three had ridden away Jed shoved his Colt tight into its holster again and looked at the young chap with foreboding. "There'll be trouble, VB; they're bad," he said. "He's a coward. The story'll go round an' he'll try to get you harder 'n ever. If he don't, those others will--will try, I mean. Matson and Julio are every bit as bad as Rhues, but they ain't quite got his fool nerve. "They're a thievin' bunch, though it ain't never been proved. Nobody trusts 'em; most men let 'em alone an' wait fer 'em to show their hand. They've been cute; they've been suspected, but they ain't never got out on a limb. They've got a lot to cover up, no doubt. But they've got a grudge now. An' when cowards carry grudges--look out!" "If a man like Rhues were all I had to fear, I should never worry," VB muttered, weak again after the excitement. "He's bad--but there are worse things--that you can't have the satisfaction of knocking down."