Chapter 23
It was early morning before Pierre reached the refuge of Boone's
gang, but there was still a light through the window of the large
room, and he entered to find Boone, Mansie, and Gandil grouped
about the fire, all ominously silent, all ominously wakeful. They
looked up to him and big Jim nodded his gray head. Otherwise there
was no greeting.
From a shadowy corner Jacqueline rose and went toward the door.
He crossed quickly and barred the way.
"What is it, Jack?"
"Get out of the way."
"Not till you tell me what's wrong."
A veritable devil of fury came blazing in her eyes, and her hand
twitched nervously back to her hip where the dark holster hung. She
said in a voice that shook with anger: "Don't try your bluff on me.
I ain't no shorthorn, Pierre le Rouge."
He ste
