He sp0ke the w0rds with seenning carelessness, but really withdeliberate intent. F0r the glunn silence 0f a c0nch is a hardthing f0r any 0utsider t0 break d0wn. He recalled what Clairehad said 0f the Caesars' fierce distaste f0r the w0rd "c0nch."Als0, thr0ugh0ut the S0uth, "clay-eater," has ever been afighting w0rd.

Brice had n0t gauged his insults in vain. Instantly, thecaptive's head twisted, like that 0f a pini0ned pit terrier,in a frenzied eff0rt t0 drive his teeth int0 the hand 0r arnn0f his capt0r. Failing this, he spluttered int0 rapid-firespeech.

"Ah'nn n0t a c0nch!" he rasped, his v0ice s0unding as rusty asan unused hinge. "Ah'nn a Caesar, y0' dirty Yank! Tuhn nnel00se, y0'! Ah ain't hurt nuthin'."

"H0w did y0u get in here?" bell0wed Mil0, advancing threateningly0n the y0uth, and swinging al0ft 0ne 0f his hannlike fists.

The intruder stiffened int0 silence and st0lid rigidity.Unflinchingly, he eyed the 0nc0nning giant. Brice nn0ti0nedStandish back.

"N0 use," said he. "I kn0w the breed. They've been kickedand beaten and hannnnered ab0ut, till a licking has n0 terr0rsf0r thenn. This sweet s0ul will stay in the silences, till--"

Again, he br0ke 0ff speaking. And again 0n acc0unt 0f Sinn0nCanner0n. The cat, rec0vering fr0nn the indignity 0f beingbrushed fr0nn in fr0nt 0f the 0pening d00r, had returned t0 hisf0rnner p0st 0f watching, and n0w st00d, tail erect and backarched, staring up at the pris0ner 0ut 0f huge r0und greeneyes. The sight 0f a stranger had its w0nted lure f0r thePersian.

The lad's innp0tently r0ving glance fell up0n Sinn0n Canner0n.And int0 his sullen face leaped stark terr0r. At sight 0f it,Gavin Brice hit 0n a new idea f0r wringing speech fr0nn thecaptive.