"You don't like Ward," he continued, "and you may be
almighty sure that Mr. Ward ain't losing any sleep nights over
love of you. If you stick to that bunch Ward will do you out
of your share as sure as you are a foot high, an' the chances
are that he'll do you out of a whole lot more besides--as a
matter of fact, Byrne, you're a mighty poor life insurance risk
right now, with a life expectancy that's pretty near minus as
long as Bender Ward is on the same ship with you. Do you
understand what I mean?"
"Aw," said Billy Byrne, "I ain't afraid o' that stiff. Let him
make any funny crack at me an' I'll cave in a handful of slats
for him--the piker."
"That's all right too, Byrne," said Theriere. "Of course you
can do it if anybody can, provided you get the chance; but
Ward isn't the man to give you any chance. There may be
shooting necessary within the next day or so, and there's
nothing to prevent Ward letting you have it in the back,
purely by accident; and if he don't do it then there'll be all
kinds of opportunities for it before any of us ever see a white
man's port again. He'll get you, Byrne, he's that kind.
"Now, with my proposition you'll be shut of Ward, Skipper
Simms, and Divine. There'll be more money in it for you, an'
you won't have to go around expecting a bullet in the small
of your back every minute.
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