The thin lips did not curve, and yet they seemed to be smiling cruelly,
and the eyes were probing deep, deep, deep into Harrigan's soul,
weighing, measuring, searching.

"When we reach land," said Harrigan, "I got an idea I'll have to break
you."

He raised his hands, which trembled with the restrained power of his
arms, and moved them as though slowly breaking a stick of wood.

"I've broken men--like that," he finished.

"When I'm through with you, Harrigan, you'll take water from a
Chinaman. You're the first man I've ever seen who could make me stop
and look twice. I need a fellow like you, but first I've got to make
you my man. The best colt in the world is no good until he learns to
take the whip without bucking. I'm going to get you used to the whip.
This is frank talk, eh? Well, I'm a frank man. You're in the harness
now, Harrigan; make up your mind: Will you pull or will you balk? Answer
me!"

"I'll see you damned!"

"Good. You've started to balk, so now you'll have to feel the whip."

He pulled a cord, and while they waited, the relentless duel of the
eyes continued. A flash of instinct like a woman's intuition told
Harrigan what impulse was moving McTee. He knew it was the same thing
which makes the small schoolboy fight with the stranger; the same