“I am neither tired of life nor afraid of you,” said Joshua manfully.
“You don’t know me, or——”
“Yes, I do. You’re the man that says he can whip his weight in wildcats. I don’t believe you dare to face your weight in tame cats.”
“Sdeath!” roared the bully. “Do you want to die on the spot?”
“Not particularly, old Rip-tail. Don’t talk sech nonsense. I’ll trouble you to tell me why you stole my horse on the way out here.”
“Let me get at him,” said the Pike man in a terrible voice, but not offering to get up from the log.
“Nobody henders your gettin’ at me,” said Mr. Bickford composedly. “But that ain’t answerin’ my question.”
“If I didn’t respect them two gentlemen too much, I’d shoot you where you stand,” said the Pike man.
“I’ve got a shootin’-iron myself, old Rip-tail, and I’m goin’ to use it if necessary.”
“What have you to say in answer to this man’s charge?” asked one of the miners, a large man who was looked upon as the leader of the company. “He charges you with taking his horse.”