on
from the United States government; and must therefore demand of you,
either to use your _pre-emption, right_, or deliver the land over to me.
Here is the government grant--you may examine it, if you feel so
inclined."

An angry oath was the response, or rather a volley of oaths.

"I thort that wur yur bisness," continued the swearer. "I thort so; but
jest this time you've kim upon a fool's errand. Durn the government
grant! durn your pre-emption right! an' durn yur title-papers too! I
don't valley them more'n them thur corn-shucks--I don't. I've got my
pre-emption dokyment inside hyur. I'll jest shew ye that, mister; an'
see how ye'll like it."

The speaker turned back into his cabin, and for a moment I lost sight of
him.

"Pre-emption document!" he said. Was it possible he had purchased the
place, and was gone to fetch his title-deeds?

If so--

My reflection was cut short. In another moment he re-appeared in the
doorway; not with any papers in his hand--but, instead, a long rifle,
that with its butt resting on the door-stoop, stood almost as high as
himself?

"Now, Mister Turn-me-out?" said he, speaking in a satirical triumphant
tone, and raising the piece in front of him, "thur's my title--my
pre-emption right's the right o' the rifle. _It's_ clur enuf: ye'll
acknowledge that, won't ye?"

"No," I replied in a firm voice.

"Ye won't? The hell, ye won't? Look hyur, stranger! I'm in airnest.
Look in my eye, an' see if I ain't! I gi' ye warnin' then, that ef
ye're not out o' this clarin' in six jumps o' a squ'll, you'll niver go
out o' it a livin' man. You see that ere stump? Its shadder's jest a
creepin' up to the house: the minnit that shadder touches the wall, I'll
shoot you down, as sure's my name's Hick Holt. Mind, I've gin ye
warnin'!"

"And I give you warning, Mr Holt, that I am prepared to defend myself;
and if you miss--"

"Miss!" ejaculated he with a contemptuous toss of the head--"miss, ye
fool! thur's no fear o' that."

"If you miss," continued I, without heeding the interruption, "I shall
show you no mercy. If you are going to take the cowardly advantage of
having the the first shot, I have my advantage too. In self-defence, I
shall be justified in killing you; and if you fire at me, I shall
certainly do so. Be warned! I never spare a coward."

"Coward!" exclaimed the colossus, with an imprecation that was horrible
to hear. "An' how ef I don't miss?" continued he, ap