His face was a picture when he replied, it was so gentle, and appeared so bland and courteous, as though he would not offend for the world.
CHAPTER LXXXII.
SAME CONTINUED.—DEATH OF ROSS.
"Young man," cried the colonel, his face swelling as though the hot blood would burst through its thin covering, "do you mean to tell me that those animals do not belong to you or your partner?"
"In the first place," answered Fred, with quiet dignity, "my name is Frederick ——, and I desire to be addressed as such in our communications, and not by the ambiguous title of 'young man.' In the next place, as I told you before, we are not the owners of those animals."
"It's a trick to cheat us," muttered the commissioner.
"Did you address a remark to me?" Fred asked, turning to the police officer.
The commissioner declined to reply, but he seemed to feel what he had uttered.
"The animals are wanted, and we shall take them, sir, for the use of the government; for the use of the government, sir, I suppose that you understand," the colonel cried.