M.—I have received the letter, but know not where I shall get the cattle. Are the 10,000 head you demand, a fine for the thefts of my people, in addition to the cattle stolen?
G.—I demand only 10,000 head, though your people have stolen many more. This is a just award, and must be paid in three days.
M.—Do the three days count from yesterday, or to-day?
G.—To-day is the first of the three.
M.—The time is short, and the cattle many. Allow me six days to collect them. I have not power over my people to make them do it.
G.—If you are not able to collect them, I must go and do it; and, if resistance is made, it will be war, and I shall not be content with 10,000, but shall take all I can.
M.—Do not talk of war! for, however anxious I may be to avoid it, you know that a dog, when beaten, will show his teeth.
G.—It will therefore be better that you should give up the cattle, than that I should go for them.
M.—I wish for peace, but have the same difficulty with my people, that you have in your country; your prisons are never empty, and I have thieves among my people.
G.—Then bring the thieves to me, that I may hang them.