His words and manner indicated, too, that he was not averse to a quarrel.

He had fought the stockmen more than once, and, with the memory of the recent collision and the advantages on the other side, he welcomed the chance of a conflict on anything like equal terms.
Monteith did not stand in any personal fear of the famous rustler, and was fully armed and on the alert.

Without seeming to do so, he kept a watch on the man, but he disliked the thought of a personal encounter with him.

The scene, the surroundings, and his own nature, revolted, and he resolved to submit to all that it was possible to bear before falling back on the last resort.
"No doubt," said Sterry, "there has been injustice on both sides, and stockmen as well as rustlers have done things for which there is no justification; I hope the trouble will soon end." "It will end as soon as we get justice." "Yes," Sterry could not help retorting, "for if justice were done to you rustlers none would be left.

However," he hastened to add, "there is no reason why you and I should quarrel, Vesey; I had no share in the death of your friend; and if the case is as you represent it, he was more sinned against than sinning." "Of course you had no share in that simply because you wasn't here, but you have been concerned in other affairs like this where some of the rustlers have gone down." "It is quite possible I have," coolly replied Sterry, "inasmuch as when a man is attacked it is his duty to defend himself.