During one afternoon there was a turmoil at one end of the camp, a clash of fists and the sight of bloody faces. Later there was still another outbreak of the same sort. Then little by little the thing increased until the camp roared steadily with strife. “It’s all Shunan,” said a trader to old Zeke. “Fellows like that make more trouble than a tribe of thieving Indians.” Once or twice during the day Kit Carson caught sight of Shunan. He was a burly fellow with the air of a bravo; his face was flushed and his eyes gleamed with menace. “A wolf,” said Kit to the boys. “So, to avoid trouble and keep the peace, lay low. If you can avoid it, don’t let him see you.” Both Dave Johnson and Joe Frazier were naturally boys of spirit; and their two years in the wilderness with the trappers had given them a confidence in themselves which they might not have had otherwise. So the idea of concealment, of practically hiding from a bully, was galling to them. Kit saw this and said: “Your keeping out of his way won’t be a mark against you boys. Nobody’ll think the worse of you for it, for more seasoned men than either of you will be for many years are dodging this man just now. So take my advice. Lay low. I don’t think it will make any real difference in the end,” as an afterthought, “for if he wants to force trouble on you, he will. But, when the time comes, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that it’s not your fault.” The lads acted upon this suggestion; and the result was that some time went by without the bully encountering them. But his purpose was plain enough; frequently he came to that part of the camp where the boys’ hut was located, and his remarks when any one happened to be in the vicinity were brutal and offensive. Kit Carson, Zeke Matthews and some others had erected lodges near that of the lads; and they frequently listened to the bully’s boasts and threats and insults without a sign. But finally the thing grew unbearable. “Human nature,” said the veteran, Zeke, “can’t stand no more. He’s getting worse. He thinks we’re afraid of him. Let him talk like that just once more, and my rifle’ll answer him.” At length the day came which brought the climax. The bully had kept the camp in hot water all morning; he had engaged in a half dozen fights with men weaker than himself, and beaten them; and so he came, roaring like a mountain bear, toward the spot where Kit sat with his friends. As it happened the two lads were in the party. Both looked up at the Frenchman from where they lay stretched upon the ground; and neither made an attempt to avoid him. He had grown accustomed to their dodging him; and now that they failed to move it seemed to inflame him more than ever. “It’s a camp full of coyotes,” announced he, squaring himself before them all. “Every one runs when a man comes along.” There was an ominous silence on the part of the trappers; and he proceeded: