They looked into
each other's eyes for several tense seconds. Then, though no word has
passed between them, Dick's hand fell.
"That's better," said Saltash. "You're getting quite civil. Look here, my
bully boy! I'll tell you something--and you'd better listen carefully,
for there's a hidden meaning to it. You're the biggest ass that ever
trod this earth. There!"
He put up a hand to his crumpled collar and straightened it, still with
his eyes upon Dick's face.
"Got that?" he asked abruptly. "Well, then, I'll tell you something else.
I've got a revolver in my pocket. I put it there in case the miners
needed any persuasion, but you shall have it to shoot me with--and no
doubt Mr. Fielding will kindly turn his back while you do it--if you
will answer--honestly--one question I should like to put to you first.
Is it a deal?"
Dick was breathing quickly. He stood close to Saltash, urged by a deadly
enmity and still on the verge of violence, but restrained by something
about the other man's attitude that he could not have defined.
"Well?" he said curtly at length. "What do you want to know?"
Saltash's lips twisted in a faintly sardonic smile.
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