Rather there came a glint into his eye, a shade of exultation in his heavy face.

"Big chief!" he said, simply.
"Heap fight!" "You bet your blame life he'll heap fight!" said Curly, from his position upon Juan's brawny breast as he held him down.

"He's good for any two of you, you screechin' cowards!" Curly's words were perhaps not fully understood, yet the import of his tone was unmistakable.

There was a stirring along the line, as though a snake rustled in the grass.

The horse-holders were crowding up closer.