Julius closed his eyes and his lips moved. Yet he was not at his devotional exercises. Before his horrified vision spread a veritable panorama of tragedy with one notable figure in the foreground somewhat inanimate.
CHAPTER XXI
“But you shall not die unavenged, my Superbus!”
Dempsi’s affectionate hand was on his arm. Julius moved away from the fire; he had gone suddenly hot.
“You’re sure he carries firearms?”
Dempsi nodded.
“Loaded? That’s against the lore, sir. A man could be pinched for that.”
Mr. Dempsi treated the matter light-heartedly. Julius could not but feel that his indifference was almost criminal.
“Certain,” he said carelessly. “I’ve never met a desperado yet—and I’ve met a few—that didn’t carry a loaded gun—generally throwing a hollow-nosed bullet. And they’re pretty good shots.”
He appeared to take a pride in their marksmanship. Julius leered at him—there is no other description for the grimace.