"Boy! Boy! You know nothing of my ability!" fumed Crabtree, coming closer and shaking, his fist in Dick's face.
"Well, I know something of your lack of ability."
"You are doing your best to insult me!"
"Such an old fraud as you cannot be insulted, Josiah Crabtree. I read your real character the first time I met you, and you have never done anything since which has caused me to alter my opinion of you. You have a small smattering of learning and you can put on a very wise look when occasion requires. But that is all there is to it, except that behind it all you are a thorough-paced scoundrel and only lack a certain courage to do some daring bit of rascality."
This statement of plain truths fairly set Josiah Crabtree to boiling with rage. He shook his fist in Dick's face again. "Don't dare to talk that way, Rover; don't dare—or—I'll—I'll—"
"What will you do?"
"Never mind; I'll show you when the proper time comes."
"I told you once before that I was not afraid of you—and I am not afraid of you now."
"You did not come to Africa alone, did you?"
"To be sure I did not. I have a large party with me."