Saul Gridley was a man who could act the bully with one inferior to himself in strength, but he was a coward in the presence of his physical superior.
"Why did you fire at me?" he asked, nervously. "You might have killed me!"
"I don't think any one would have missed you. But you have not answered my question. What were you doing?"
"I—I was just having a little talk with the boy," he answered, stammering.
"Oh, that is all, is it?"
"Yes."
"What did he say to you, Gerald?"
"He ordered me to get out of the wagon, and threatened to flog me within an inch of my life."
"That is what you call having a little talk," said Bean. "What have you to say to this?"
"The boy must have misunderstood me," stammered Gridley.