"I must; therefore I can and will," Jeffard asserted, with fine determination. "Be good enough to ask the bell-boy to come in and lace my shoes." The man with a mission to compel other men smiled. His fetish was indomitable resolution, for himself first, and afterward for those who deserved; and here was a man who, whatever his lacks and havings in the ethical field, was at least courageous. Having admitted so much, the promoter went down on one knee to lace the courageous one's shoes, dissuading him, meanwhile. "You can't go to-day; the wound-fever will come on presently, and you'll be a sick man. Let it rest a while. Having put himself on the criminal side of the fence by trying to kill you, your partner will hardly dare to jump the claim in person; he will have to find a proxy, and that will ask for time,--more time than the sheriff-dodging will permit." "His proxies are here, and they will act without instructions from him," said Jeffard, with his hands to his head and his teeth set to keep the words from shaping themselves into a groan. "You mean the two who were with him?" "Yes. So far as the present fight is concerned, the three are one; and two of them are still free to act." "So?--that's different." Denby finished tying the second shoe and rose to begin measuring a sentinel's beat between the window and the door, pacing evenly with his brows knitted and his hands clasped behind him. "You know what to expect, then?" "I know that I have been twice shot at within the past two hours, and that the moments are golden." "But you are in no condition to go in and hold it alone! You'll have to meet force with force. You ought to have at least three or four good men with you." "What I have to do presupposes a clear field," said Jeffard guardedly. "If it should come to blows, the discussion of--of ethics will be indefinitely postponed, I'm afraid." "Humph! I suppose your reasons are as strong as your obstinacy. How far is it to your claim?" "I don't know the exact distance; about twenty miles, I believe. But there is a mountain range intervening." "You can't ride it in your present condition; it's a sheer physical impossibility." "I shall ride it." "What is the use of being an ass?" demanded the master of men, losing patience for once in a way. "Don't you see you can't stand alone?" Jeffard struggled to his feet and wavered across the room to a chair. Denby laughed,--a quiet little chuckle of appreciation.