Page:Hugh Pendexter--Kings of the Missouri.djvu/55

 his right hand. Lander came to his senses and whipped out his blade from his boot. Papa Clair jolted him to the rear with an elbow and, mincing aside a few steps to confront the man on his feet, he purred:

"Ah, m'sieu knows the knife. See and behold! I drop my hand. I take the knife by the handle. I will not move till m'sieu lifts his blade and is ready to throw."

A river-rat squirmed up to the table and whispered hoarsely in the desperado's ear. With a sickly grimace the man placed both hands on the table. His friends glared at him in wonderment. He explained:

"Devil Clair. Go 'down to the Gulf an' ask 'bout him in th' old days. If any on ye wants to pick up this trouble an' carry a fight to him, ye're welcome to my chance. I quits. I've seen a 'gator chaw up a puppy. There ain't a bit o' fight left in my whole natur'." Then to Papa Clair and with a side nod toward the wounded man, "Ye got through with Hepsy?"

Papa Clair was grieved and replacing one knife tugged at his long white mustache regretfully.

"No spirit," he sighed to Lander. "When I