This he managed to accomplish,
sustaining the cold intensity of Quintana's gaze as long as he deemed it
necessary. Then he started toward his rifle. Quintana blocked his way.

"Where my packet?"

"Gol ram it! Ain't I told you? Jake had it in his pocket."

"My packet?"

"Yaas, yourn."

"My packet, it is down in thee sink 'ole?"

"You think I'm lyin'?" blustered Leverett, trying to move around
Quintana's extended arm. The arm swerved and clutched him by the collar
of his flannel shirt.

"Wait, my frien'," said Quintana in a soft voice. "You shall explain to
me some things before you go."

"Explain what! -- you gol dinged----"

Quintana shook him into speechlessness.

"Listen, my frien'," he continued with a terrifying smile, "I mus' ask
you what it was, that gun-shot, which I hear while I await at Drown'
Vallee. Eh? Who fire a gun?"

"I ain't heard no gun," replied Leverett in a strangled voice.

"You did not shoot? No?"

"No! -- damn it all----"

"And Jake? He did not fire?"

"No, I tell yeh----"

"Ah! Someone lies. It is not me, my frien'. No. Let us examine your
rifle----"

Leverett made a rush for the gun; Quintana slung him back against the
oak tree and thrust an automatic pistol against his chin.

"Han's up, my frien'," he said gently, "-- up! high up! -- or someone
will fire another shot you shall never hear. ... So! ... Now I search
the other pocket. ... So! ... Still no packet. Bah! Not in the pants,
either? Ah, bah! But wait! Tiens! What is this you hide inside your
shirt----?"

"I was jokin'," gasped Leverett; "-- I was jest a-goin' to give it to
you----"

"Is that my packet?"

"Yes. It was all in fun; I wan't a-going to steal it----"

Quintana unbuttoned the grey wool shirt, thrust in his hand and drew
forth the packet for which Jake Kloon had died within the hour.

Suddenly Leverett's knees gave way and he dropped to the ground,
grovelling at Quintana's feet in an agony of fright:

"Don't hurt me," he screamed, "-- I didn't mean no harm! Jake, he
wanted me to steal it. I told him I was honest. I fired a shot to
scare him, an' he tuk an' run off! I wan't a-goin' to steal it off you,
so help me God! I was lookin' for you -- as God is my witness----"

He got Quintana by one foot. Quintana kicked him aside and backed away.

"Swine," he sad, calmly inspecting the whimpering creature who had
started to crawl toward him.

He hesitate, lifted his auto