Guarez swung his foot back as though intending to plant a vicious kick in Bolton's face.
"Have done with cowardice, Guarez!" ordered Lieutenant Hal sternly.
"Oh!" sneered the Mexican. "Me? I do as I please, and it would give me joy to kick your head off."
"I'd bide my time, and make you swallow your own foot in time, if you did," retorted Hal undauntedly.
"Be not too bold, my very young friend," warned Guarez, "or I shall deal with you at my leisure by taking you across into Mexico with me to-night."
"Try it!" dared Hal contemptuously.
For answer Guarez struck his boot lightly against Overton's lips. It was not a hard blow, nor did it cause any pain, but the meanness of the action brought the hot blood to Lieutenant Hal's face.
"I'll wait my own time to make you apologize humbly for that, you contemptible, cowardly Greaser!" broke impetuously from the Army boy's insulted lips.
An instant after the words were out Lieutenant Hal regretted the use of the word Greaser. That word, as a term of contempt for people of another country should not have been uttered by an officer of the Army.
"Bah!" retorted Guarez. "Some other time for you, my young jaguar."