"How? Is zat posseeble?" cried the Chevalier d'Ouray, a disappointed
look coming into his face.

"Yes; it's true," nodded Jack.

"But you did not come to any terms wiz him?"

"Oh, no!"

"Ah, zen, ze coast is steel clear," cried the little Frenchman,
delightedly. "So, as to w'ere we can meet and mek ze one talk--"

"We can get that all over with, right here," Jack replied. "We can make
you the same answer that we gave the other man. We are Americans, and
would never think of serving any other flag, even in peace time.
Chevalier, I can save your time by telling you that any arrangement to
engage our services away from the United States would be utterly
hopeless."

"But ze money--" began the Frenchman, protestingly.

"There isn't money enough across the Atlantic to hire us," Jack answered,
bluntly.

"And ze honneur--"

"Honor? What would that word afterwards mean to Americans, Chevalier,
after they had left their own country to serve another?"