"But you haven't another gun hidden on you, Jim? You won't try to shoot him up?" "No," said Silent. "If I had a gun I don't know--but I haven't a gun. My hands'll be enough!" All that could be done now was to get Whistling Dan out of the saloon. That would be simple. A single word would suffice to send the timid man helter-skelter homewards. The large, lazy brown eyes turned up to Haines as the latter approached. "Dan," he said, "hit for the timbers--get on your way--there's danger here for you!" To his astonishment the brown eyes did not vary a shade. "Danger?" he repeated wonderingly. "Danger! Get up and get out if you want to save your hide!" "What's the trouble?" said Dan, and his eyes were surprised, but not afraid. "The biggest man in this room is after your blood." "Is he?" said Dan wonderingly. "I'm sorry I don't feel like leavin', but I'm not tired of this place yet." "Friend," said Haines, "if that tall man puts his hands on you, he'll break you across his knee like a rotten stick of wood!" It was too late. Silent evidently guessed that Haines was urging his quarry to flee. "Hey!" he roared, so that all heads turned towards him, "you over there." Haines stepped back, sick at heart. He knew that it would be folly to meet his chief hand to hand, but he thought of his pledge to Kate, and groaned. "What do you want of me?" asked Dan, for the pointed arm left no doubt as to whom Silent intended. "Get up when you're spoke to" cried Silent. "Ain't you learned no manners? An' git up quick!" Dan rose, smiling his surprise. "Your friend has a sort of queer way of talkin'," he said to Haines. "Don't stan' there like a fool. Trot over to the bar an' git me a jolt of red-eye. I'm dry!" thundered Silent. "Sure!" nodded Whistling Dan amiably, "glad to!" and he went accordingly towards the bar. The men about the room looked to each other with sick smiles. There was an excuse for acquiescence, for the figure of Jim Silent contrasted with Whistling Dan was like an oak compared with a sapling. Nevertheless such bland cowardice as Dan was showing made their flesh creep. He asked at the bar for the whisky, and Morgan spoke as Dan filled a glass nearly to the brim. "Dan," he whispered rapidly, "I got a gun behind the bar. Say the word an' I'll take the chance of pullin' it on that big skunk. Then you make a dive for the door. Maybe I can keep him back till you get on Satan." "Why should I beat it?" queried Dan, astonished. "I'm jest beginnin' to get interested in your place. That tall feller is sure a queer one, ain't he?" With the same calm and wide-eyed smile of inquiry he turned away, taking the glass of liquor, and left Morgan to stare after him with a face pale with amazement, while he whispered over and over to himself: "Well, I'll be damned! Well, I'll be damned!" Dan placed the liquor before Silent. The latter sat gnawing his lips.