第35章

Mullerstoodinshadow。NodoubtheexpectedwhatwasComing，andsoughttheadvantageofposition；butforamanwhowishedtopersuadeandhadnothingtoconceal，minewasthepreferable。

’Lookhere，’Ibegan，’Ihearyouaresellingtothenatives。’

’Othershavedonethatbeforeme，’hereturnedpointedly。

’Nodoubt，’saidI，’andIhavenothingtodowiththepast，butthefuture。Iwantyoutopromiseyouwillhandlethesespiritscarefully。’

’Nowwhatisyourmotiveinthis?’heasked，andthen，withasneer，’Areyouafraidofyourlife?’

’Thatisnothingtothepurpose，’Ireplied。’Iknow，andyouknow，thesespiritsoughtnottobeusedatall。’

’TomandMr。Rickhavesoldthembefore。’

’IhavenothingtodowithTomandMr。Rick。AllIknowisIhaveheardthembothrefuse。’

’No，Isupposeyouhavenothingtodowiththem。Thenyouarejustafraidofyourlife。’

’Comenow，’Icried，beingperhapsalittlestung，’youknowinyourheartIamaskingareasonablething。Idon’taskyoutoloseyourprofit-thoughIwouldprefertoseenospiritsbroughthere，asyouwould-’

’Idon’tsayIwouldn’t。Ididn’tbeginthis，’heinterjected。

’No，Idon’tsupposeyoudid，’saidI。’AndIdon’taskyoutolose；Iaskyoutogivemeyourword，mantoman，thatyouwillmakenonativedrunk。’

UptonowMr。Mullerhadmaintainedanattitudeverytryingtomytemper；buthehadmaintaineditwithdifficulty，hissentimentbeingalluponmyside；andherehechangedgroundfortheworse。

’Itisn’tmethatsells，’saidhe。

’No，it’sthatnigger，’Iagreed。’Buthe’syourstobuyandsell；

youhaveyourhandonthenapeofhisneck；andIaskyou-Ihavemywifehere-tousetheauthorityyouhave。’

Hehastilyreturnedtohisoldward。’Idon’tdenyIcouldifI

wanted，’saidhe。’Butthere’snodanger，thenativesareallquiet。You’rejustafraidofyourlife。’

Idonotliketobecalledacoward，evenbyimplication；andhereIlostmytemperandpropoundedanuntimelyultimatum。’Youhadbetterputitplain，’Icried。’DoyoumeantorefusemewhatI

ask?’

’Idon’twanteithertorefuseitorgrantit，’hereplied。

’You’llfindyouhavetodotheonethingortheother，andrightnow！’Icried，andthen，strikingintoahappiervein，’Come，’saidI，’you’reabettersortthanthat。Iseewhat’swrongwithyou-

youthinkIcamefromtheoppositecamp。Iseethesortofmanyouare，andyouknowthatwhatIaskisright。’

Againhechangedground。’Ifthenativesgetanydrink，itisn’tsafetostopthem，’heobjected。

’I’llbeanswerableforthebar，’Isaid。’Wearethreemenandfourrevolvers；we’llcomeataword，andholdtheplaceagainstthevillage。’

’Youdon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout；it’stoodangerous！’hecried。

’Lookhere，’saidI，’Idon’tmindmuchaboutlosingthatlifeyoutalksomuchof；butImeantoloseitthewayIwantto，andthatis，puttingastoptoallthisbeastliness。’

Hetalkedawhileabouthisdutytothefirm；Imindednotatall，Iwassecureofvictory。Hewasbutwaitingtocapitulate，andlookedaboutforanypotenttorelievethestrain。Inthegushoflightfrom