He had discovered that Quade and Culver Rann, his partner at Tête Jaune, were forces to be reckoned with even by the "powers" along the line of rail.

Quade was a villain.

Quade wasn't no tenderfoot, and he could shoot a bit, besides.

And he knew that Quade was no longer a reasoning thing.

We know Quade was a fighter.

Slowly and deliberately he began to circle around Quade, so that Quade became the pivot of that circle, and as he circled he drew nearer and nearer to his enemy, but never in a frontal advance.

Quade was the largest, and it was mutely accepted that he should be the first to walk, while Sinclair rode.

Quade may be a drag.

Mebby Quade is with him, an' mebby he ain't.

Quade is the viler of the two.