It seemed difficult to be just to this Colter, not because of his claims, but because of a subtle hostility that emanated from him.

Colter had the hard face, the masked intent, the turn of speech that Jean had come to associate with dishonest men.

Even if Jean had not been prejudiced, if he had known nothing of his father's trouble with these sheepmen, and if Colter had met him only to exchange glances and greetings, still Jean would never have had a favorable impression.

Colter grated upon him, roused an antagonism seldom felt.
"Heigho!" sighed the young man, "Good-by to huntin' an' fishing'! Dad's given me a man's job." With that he mounted his horse and started the pack mule into the right-hand trail.

Walking and trotting, he traveled all afternoon, toward sunset getting into heavy forest of pine.