ny an' some outfit for de ole boss."

"Pony an' outfit, is it?" shouted Carroll. "What the blank, blank d'ye
mane? What 'av ye done wid that pack pony av moine, an' where's yer
blank ould fool av a boss?"

Carroll was working himself up into a fine rage.

"De boss, he's in bed," replied Perault coolly. "De pony, he's in de
Black Dog Reever, guess."

"The Black Dog? What the blank, blank d'ye mane, anyway? Why don't ye
answer? Blank ye f'r a cursed crapeau of a Frenchman? Is that pony of
moine drowned?"

"Mebbe," said Perault, shrugging his shoulders, "unless he leev under
de water lak one mush-rat."

"Blank yer impudence," roared Carroll, "to be sittin' there laughin' in
me face at the loss av me property. It's no better than a pack of
thieves ye are."

"Tieves!" answered Perault, in quick anger. "Dere's one beeg, black,
hairy tief not far 'way dat's got hees money for dat pony two--three
tam overe."

Choking with rage, Carroll took one step toward him, kicked his chair
clean from under him, and deposited the Frenchman on the floor amid a
shout of laughter from the crowd. In blazing wrath Perault was on his
feet with a bound, and, swinging his chair around his head, hurled it
full in the face of his enemy. Carroll caught it on his arm and came
rushing at the Frenchman.

"You one beeg black tief," shrieked Perault, drawing a knife and
striking savagely at the big Irishman. As he delivered his blow Carroll
caught him by the wrist, wrenched the knife from his grasp, seizing him
by the throat proceeded to choke him. The crowd stood looking on,
hesitating to interfere. A fight was understood in that country to be
the business of no man save those immediately concerned. Besides this,
Carroll was dreaded for his great strength and his furious temper, and
no man cared to imperil his life by attacking him.

"Blank yer cursed soul!" cried Carroll through his clenched teeth.
"It's this Oi've been waintin' f'r many a day, an' now by the powers
Oi'll be takin' the life of yez, so Oi will."

His threat would undoubtedly have been carried out, for Perault was
bent far back, his face was black, and his tongue protruded from his
wide opens mouth. But at this moment the door opened and Shock quietly
stepped in. For a single instant he stood gazing in amazement upon the
strange scene, then stepping quickly behind Carroll, whose back was
toward the door, he caught his wrist.

"You are killing the man," he said quietly.

"