Government of their own back of them, and if you interfere with
our conceded rights to work those mines, I'll have a man-of-war
down here with white paint on her hull, and she'll blow you and
your little republic back up there into the mountains. Now you
can go.''

Mendoza had straightened with surprise when Clay first began to
speak, and had then bent forward slightly as though he meant to
interrupt him. His eyebrows were lowered in a straight line, and
his lips moved quickly.

``You poor--'' he began, contemptuously. ``Bah,'' he exclaimed,
``you're a fool; I should have sent a servant to talk with you.
You are a child--but you are an insolent child,'' he cried,
suddenly, his anger breaking out, ``and I shall punish you. You
dare to call me names! You shall fight me, you shall fight me
to-morrow. You have insulted an officer, and you shall meet me
at once, to-morrow.''

``If I meet you to-morrow,'' Clay replied, ``I will thrash you
for your impertinence. The only reason I don't do it now is
because you are on my doorstep. You had better not meet me
tomorrow, or at any other time. And I have no leisure to fight
duels with anybody.''

``You are a coward,'' returned the other, quietly, ``and I tell
you so before my servant.''

Clay gave a short laugh and turned to MacWilliams in the doorway.