Donald walked back to Connie’s side. The men had not interrupted him once.
Hand turned to the wavering crowd. “To hell mit him and all capitalists!” he snarled. He turned to shake a huge fist at Donald.
“You treaten us, do you? You d——” The epithet that came from his coarse lips was one that would cause any decent man to see red.
Donald stiffened. His face turned livid. “You dirty cur!” he flamed. “Don’t you know that there is a lady present? You apologize to this little girl or I will whip you within an inch of your life!” His voice trembled with passion.
“Lady,” scoffed Hand, “vat you call a lady? She moost be nice lady, runnin’ in de woods wit’ you ev’ry Sunday.”
A murderous look shot from Donald’s dark eyes. A terrible rage possessed him, a rage that made his blood feel hot in his veins and gave him the unnatural strength of a madman. A dull red flamed in Connie’s tanned cheeks. She sat down and covered her hot face with her hands.
Andy now came running from the cook-house, dressed in white cap and apron, his rifle trailing at his side. “What’s goin’ on, Donnie?” he questioned.
Donald did not answer. Gillis spoke to Andy in an undertone.
“My God, Donnie, ’e’s twice your size! Don’t fight ’im!” implored Andy.
Gillis seized his arm. “Let me fix the d—— skunk; he’s nearer my size.”
“No, this is my affair!” shaking himself from the grasp.
The sound of a paddle came from below, and the trapper sprang from his dugout and came swiftly up the hill. As Andy briefly explained the situation the old man’s grey eyes narrowed to mere slits beneath the shaggy brows.
“Ah!” he breathed. “Me and ‘Betsey’,” patting his six-shooter, “we likes to shoot up bohunks. We shoots them in the heel so’s to save their clothes.” His mouth was set in a grim smile, a smile that was belied by the steely look in his deep-set eyes. He seated himself on a log and placed his gun on his knees.
Donald had by this divested himself of coat and shirt and now stepped forward dressed in light cotton trousers, a sleeveless undershirt and moccasins. “Hand,” he said in a steady voice, “this is between you and me. See to it that your men do not interfere; I will vouch for mine.”
The big foreigner was rubbing his big hands as though in pleased anticipation. “I suppose you know how we iss goin’ to fight? Everything goes, you know.” His grin was fiendish.