Should your men, in their
folly, determine to do so, I am not unprepared, and I think not
unwilling, to defend myself."
"Ay, ay--I forgot, sir, you are from Carolina, where they make nothing
of swallowing Uncle Sam for a lunch. It is very well, sir; you take your
risk, and will abide the consequences though I look not to find you when
the fray begins."
"You shall not provoke me, sir, by your sneer; and may assure yourself,
if it will satisfy you, that though I will not fight for you, I shall
have no scruple of putting a bullet through the scull of the first
ruffian who gives me the least occasion to do so."
The youth spoke indignantly, but the landlord appeared not to regard the
retort. Turning to the troop, which had been decorously attentive, he
bade them follow, saying
"Come on, boys--we shall have to do without the stranger; he does not
fight, it seems, for the fun of the thing. If Pippin was here,
doubtless, we should have arguments enough from the pair to keep _them_
in whole bones, at least, if nobody else.
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