The speech of the agent was a telling one on the colonel and commissioner, for they knew that government would never pardon interference with a line that cost so much money to establish, and which was carrying information through the country at an unprecedentedly rapid rate. No wonder they stopped to consider, and changed their fierce aspect for one of conciliation, for they knew that suspension from duty would probably follow a remonstrance from the company.
"If you have bought the horses we have nothing further to say," the commissioner remarked, turning to the agent; "it was a mistake on our part in supposing that they belonged to these gentlemen, whom we are proud to call friends, and to whom we now desire to state that we only proposed to borrow the animals for a short time, and return them after these unhappy troubles."
"If the d——d brutes were not killed," muttered the colonel, sotto voce, and with a look of the most intense hatred.
"Colonel Kellum, you accuse me of acting unfairly in this business, and I desire an explanation," Fred said, the matter still rankling in his mind.
"I have given the only explanation that I shall give, and with that you must rest satisfied," was the reply of the red-faced Briton.
"Then I suppose that you will favor me with a meeting at an early hour?" Fred asked.
"What!" cried the military man, with some surprise, "a colonel in her majesty's army meet a dealer in tea and coffee? You must be mad!"
The red face of the military man grew purple as he thought of the indignity.
"Then I can only suppose that you are a coward, and that even a blow would not induce you to fight. Is that the case, sir?"
The colonel smiled with bitter scorn, and turned to leave the store.