“No one will be obliged to accede unwillingly,” said Clarence. “Let us at least be courteous.”
“Certainly. Have you any idea what it is that he wants to say?” asked Gasbang.
“He wants to make some proposition to the settlers, by which he hopes that the interests of all concerned will be subserved,” said Clarence.
“Visionary!” exclaimed Gasbang, tapping his forehead with his forefinger; “not practical.”
“But his intentions are perfectly kind and fair,” Clarence said.
“That is to say, Mr. Mechlin thinks they are.”
“Why shouldn't they be? He certainly can't coerce anybody. Here we are on what he believes to be his land, and we don't think it is. Well, what of that?”
“He certainly won't propose to fight us single-handed. We are the majority,” said Darrell.
“All right. We'll see Hager and Miller, and the other fellows in that valley. But we think Mr. Clarence will do better with Hancock, Pittikin and Hughes. The female element is strong there, but it will weaken in his hands, and in that malleable condition, he can shape it to suit himself, with one look out of his eyes at the whole troop of girls,” said Gasbang.
“Goodness! You don't suppose I would go to play the sweet fellow to those ugly old girls, and make a fool of myself,” said Clarence, with so genuine a look of thorough disgust, that it made John Gasbang indulge in one of his loudest fits of hilarity. “Don't be alarmed, my young friend. There is no harm for you there. I could turn you loose among those girls and you would be as safe as Daniel among ‘lions’ or in ‘fiery furnace.’ You would not get a single scratch, or feel any flames at all,” said he.