And his conspiring nostrils smelled whisky in that untainted air. CHAPTER XIV The Schoolhouse Dance Young VB held a twofold interest for the men of Clear River. First, the story of his fight with the Captain spread over the land, percolating to the farthest camps. Men laughed at first. The absurdity of it! Then, their surprise giving way to their appreciation of his attainment, their commendation for the young Easterner soared to superlatively profane heights. When he met those who had been strangers before it was to be scrutinized and questioned and frankly, honestly admired. Now came another reason for discussing him about bunk-house stoves. He had thrashed Rhues! Great as had been the credit accorded VB for the capture of the stallion, just so great was men's delight caused by the outcome of that other encounter. They remembered, then, how Rhues had told of the greenhorn who was afraid to take a drink; how he had made it a purpose to spread stories of ridicule, doing his best to pervert the community's natural desire to let the affairs of others alone. And this recollection of Rhues's bullying was an added reason for their saying: "Good! I'm glad to hear it. Too bad th' kid didn't beat him to death!" Though his meetings with other men were few and scattered, VB was coming to be liked. It mattered little to others why he was in the country, from where he came, or who he had been. He had accomplished two worthy things among them, and respect was accorded him across vast distances. Dozens of these men had seen him only once, and scores never, yet they reckoned him of their number--a man to be taken seriously, worthy of their kindly attention, of their interest, and of their respect. Bob Thorpe helped to establish VB in the mountains. He thought much about his interview with the young chap, and told to a half-dozen men the story which, coming from him, had weight. His daughter did not abandon her idea of owning the Captain. Bob told her repeatedly that it was useless to argue with a man who spoke as did Jed's rider; but the girl chose to disagree with him. "I think that if you'd flatter him enough--if we both would--that he would listen. Don't you?" she asked. Bob Thorpe shook his head. "No," he answered. "You can't convince me of that. You don't know men, and I do. I've seen one or two like him before--who love a thing of that sort above money; and, I've found you can't do a thing with 'em--ding 'em!" The girl cried: "Why, don't feel that way about it! I think it's perfectly fine--to love an animal so much that money won't buy him!" "Sure it is," answered her father. "That's what makes me out of patience with them. They're--they're better men than most of us, and--well, they make a fellow feel rather small at times." Then he went away, and Gail puzzled over his concluding remark. A week to a day after her first visit she drove again to Jed's ranch. "I came over to see the Captain," she told the old man gayly.