"It's merely a question of whether you will take them down, or whether I shall set our own men to doing it." Jim Duff had brought with him about a dozen men of his own.

They were a somewhat picturesque-looking crowd, though not necessarily dangerous men.

They were mostly men who had been hired to run the gaming tables under the canvas.

A judge of men would have immediately classified them as inferior specimens of manhood.
So far these men had not offered to take any part in the dispute.

Now Duff moved over to them quickly, muttering the words: "Stand by me!" As for Tom Reade, he was backed by five men, including his chum.