afraid, nor was he tempted for a moment by the promise of a glittering
future that Alvarez held out to him. He felt an immense indignation, but
he was still master of himself, and he replied quietly.

"I could not leave my own people, nor would any of my comrades. The air of
Louisiana does not suit us. We are accustomed to a colder climate. We
feel, too, that Kaintock can take care of herself. Nor is it sure that the
Eastern colonies will be crushed by the King. But, should they be,
Kentucky would never desert them to join Spain."

Alvarez frowned, and his temper began to rise. Henry was showing more
finesse and more knowledge of the world and its events than he had thought
possible in one just come out of the woods.

"By entering my service, by becoming a lieutenant of mine, you have all to
gain and nothing to lose," he said, resuming his customary tone of
superiority.

Henry instantly felt the change of manner and resented it.

"I could not dream of accepting such an offer," he said, "but, if I
should, I'd merely take the place that you've already given to Braxton
Wyatt, a renegade. He thinks it is his, and you have made him think it is
his. If you do not keep faith with him how could I believe that you would
keep faith with me?"

The dark blood of anger flushed the Spaniard's face. He half rose from his
seat and then sat down again.

"I have made you an offer," he said, "one that any youth or young man
should be proud to accept, and you insult me by saying that you doubt my
faith. You are a child, a backwoodsman, and an ignorant fellow!"

"I am not ignorant about some things of importance," replied Henry calmly,
"but, if I were low enough to be tempted by your offer, I should still be
wise enough to know that a man who plots against his own superior officer
could not be trusted by me." "What do you mean?" asked Alvarez, paling for
a moment.

"Is it not true that by fair or foul means you expect shortly to succeed
Bernardo Galvez as Governor General of Louisiana?"

The Spaniard's hand flew to his sword hilt. Such things as these were not
to be known by everybody. But Henry met his gaze steadily, and the hand
fell away from the sword-hilt. He had gone too far already. He was sorry
that he had turned the professional swordsman loose on Paul--it had been
an unwise deed--and another act of violence in a single day was unworthy a
man of his self-control. No, a new and better plan came suddenly into his
mind.