Do you want Dan kept here ?" "For God's sake, yes." "Suppose the posse gets him here ?" "We musn't dodge the law." They were gauging their voices with the closest precision.

Talking like this so close to Barry was like dancing among flasks of nitroglycerine.
Once, and once only, Lee Haines cast a desperate eye across to them, begging them to come to his rescue, then he went back to his talk with Dan, raising his voice to shelter the conference of the other two.
"If they come, he'll fight." "No, he isn't at the fighting pitch yet, I know!" "If you're wrong they'll be dead men here." "He sees no difference between the death of a horse and the death of a man.

He feels that the law has no score against him.

He'll go quietly." "And we'll find ways of fightin' the law ?" "Yes, but it needs money." "I've got a stake." "God bless you, Buck." "Take my advice." "What ?" "Let him go now." She glanced at him wildly.
"Kate, he's gone already." "No, no, no!" "I say he's gone.

Look at his eyes." "I don't dare." "The yaller is comin' up in 'em.