The speech of the agent was a telling one on the colonel and commissioner, for they knew that government would never pardon interference with a line that cost so much money to establish, and which was carrying information through the country at an unprecedentedly rapid rate.  No wonder they stopped to consider, and changed their fierce aspect for one of conciliation, for they knew that suspension from duty would probably follow a remonstrance from the company.

“If you have bought the horses we have nothing further to say,” the commissioner remarked, turning to the agent; “it was a mistake on our part in supposing that they belonged to these gentlemen, whom we are proud to call friends, and to whom we now desire to state that we only proposed to borrow the animals for a short time, and return them after these unhappy troubles.”

“If the d——­d brutes were not killed,” muttered the colonel, sotto voce, and with a look of the most intense hatred.

“Colonel Kellum, you accuse me of acting unfairly in this business, and I desire an explanation,” Fred said, the matter still rankling in his mind.

“I have given the only explanation that I shall give, and with that you must rest satisfied,” was the reply of the red-faced Briton.

“Then I suppose that you will favor me with a meeting at an early hour?” Fred asked.

“What!” cried the military man, with some surprise, “a colonel in her majesty’s army meet a dealer in tea and coffee?  You must be mad!”

The red face of the military man grew purple as he thought of the indignity.

“Then I can only suppose that you are a coward, and that even a blow would not induce you to fight.  Is that the case, sir?”

The colonel smiled with bitter scorn, and turned to leave the store.

“You refuse me an apology, do you?” Fred demanded, springing in front of Kellum, and barring his way to the door.

“Out of my way, grocer,” the colonel shouted, with a laugh so insulting that Fred could contain himself no longer.  He raised his hand and struck his opponent a light blow across his face.

Kellum swelled until I thought that every vein in his body would burst at the indignity.  He muttered a few inaudible words, and then rubbed his forehead as though he did not half comprehend the insult, and wished to recall his scattered senses to know whether it was real.

“Now,” said Fred, “you can go.  I have repaid you insult for insult, and we are even-handed.  If you desire satisfaction for the blow, you know where to find me.”

“Yes, I can find you now!” Kellum hissed, with an oath of some magnitude; “you have struck me, and have sold your last pound of tea on earth.”

“Look out!” shouted the stage agent; and his words of caution were none too soon, for the colonel drew his sword suddenly, and made a desperate lunge at Fred, which he avoided, and the point of the blade struck against a nail keg, and broke short off.