closes door on
STARBOTTLE as SANDY MORTON enters cautiously and sheepishly from left.
SANDY stops in astonishment on observing STARBOTTLE, and remains by wing
left.

Starbottle (smelling flowers, and not noticing MISS MARY'S absence).
Beautiful--er--exquisite. (Looking up at closed door.) Ged! Most
extraordinary disappearance! (Looks around, and discovers SANDY;
examines him for a moment through his eyeglass, and then, after a pause,
inflates his chest, turns his back on SANDY, and advances to schoolhouse
door. SANDY comes quickly, and, as STARBOTTLE raises his cane to rap on
door, seizes his arm. Both men, regarding each other fixedly, holding
each other, retreat slowly and cautiously to centre. Then STARBOTTLE
disengages his arm.)

Sandy (embarrassedly but determinedly). Look yer, stranger. By the rules
of this camp, this place is sacred to the schoolma'am and her children.

Starbottle (with lofty severity). It is! Then--er--permit me to ask,
sir, what YOU are doing here.

Sandy (embarrassed, and dropping his head in confusion). I was--passing.
There is no school to-day.

Starbottle. Then, sir, Ged! permit me to--er--DEMAND--DEMAND, sir--an
apology. You have laid, sir, your hand upon my person--demn me! Not
the first time, sir, either; for, if I am not mistaken, you are
the--er--inebriated menial, sir, who two months ago jostled me,
sir,--demn me,--as I entered the rancho of my friend Don Jose Castro.

Sandy (starting, aside). Don Jose! (Aloud.) Hush, hush! She will hear
you. No--that is--(stops, confused and embarrassed. Aside.) She will
hear of my disgrace. He will tell her the whole story.

Starbottle. I shall await your apology one hour. At the end of that
time, if it is not forthcoming, I shall--er--er--waive your menial
antecedents, and expect the--er--satisfaction of a gentleman.
Good-morning, sir. (Turns to schoolhouse.)

Sandy. No, no: you shall not go!

Starbottle. Who will prevent me?

Sandy (grappling him). I will. (Appealingly.) Look yer, stranger, don't
provoke me, I, a desperate man, desperate and crazed with drink,--don't
ye, don't ye do it! For God's sake, take your hands off me! Ye don't
know what ye do. Ah! (Wildly, holding STARBOTTLE firmly, and forcing him
backward to precipice beyond ledge of rocks.) Hear me. Three years ago,
in a moment like this, I dragged a man--my friend--to this precipice.
I--I--no! no!--don't anger me now! (Sandy's grip on STARBOTTLE relaxes
slightly, and his h