Like some old father-bear watching his cub flash teeth against a stalking lynx, half proud and half fearful of such courage, so the dying cattleman looked at his son.

Excitement set a high and dangerous color in his cheek.

"Pierre--brave boy! Look at me.

I ain't no imitation man, even now, but I ain't a ghost of what I was.

There wasn't no man I wouldn't of met fair and square with bare hands or with a gun.