fession,
but we do look for ordinary common honesty. But it seems that we look in
vain. You have behaved like a mighty fine skunk, sir. And if you don't
see that there's any crying need for a very humble apology, you've got
about the thickest hide that ever frayed a horsewhip."

Every one was standing by the time this elaborate threat was uttered,
and it was quite obvious that Rudd voiced the general opinion. The only
one whose face expressed no indignation was Archie Bathurst. He was
leaning against the wall, mopping his forehead with a shaking hand.

No one looked at him. All attention was centred upon West, who met it
with a calm serenity suggestive of contempt. He showed himself in no
hurry to respond to Rudd's indictment, and when he did it was not
exclusively to Rudd that he spoke.

"I am sorry," he coolly said, "that you consider yourselves aggrieved by
my experiment. I do not myself see in what way I have injured you.
However, perhaps you are the best judges of that. If you consider an
apology due to you, I am quite ready to apologise."

His glance rested for a second upon Archie, then slowly swept the entire
assembly. There was scant humility about him, apologise though he might.

Rudd returned his look with open disgust. But it was Norton who replied
to West's calm defence of himself.

"It is Bathurst who is the greatest loser," he said, with a glance at
that young man, who was beginning to recover from his agitation. "It was
a tom-fool trick to play, but it's done. You won't get another
opportunity for your experiments on board this boat. So--if Bathurst is
satisfied--I should say the sooner you apologise and clear out the
better."

"We will confiscate this, anyway," declared Rudd, plucking the mirror
from West's coat.

He flung it down, and ground his heel upon it with venomous intention.
West merely shrugged his shoulders.

"I apologise," he said briefly, "singly and collectively, to all
concerned in my experiment, especially"--he made a slight pause--"to Mr.
Bathurst, whose run of luck I deeply regret to have curtailed. If Mr.
Bathurst is satisfied, I will now withdraw."

He paused again, as if to give Bathurst an opportunity to express an
opinion. But Archie said nothing whatever. He was staring down upon the
table, and did not so much as raise his eyes.

West shrugged his shoulders again, ever so slightly, and swung slowly
upon his heel. In a dead silence he walked away down the saloon. No o