"Vil you, dough? Vel, I'll pet you yoost apout a half-dollar, on dot, I vil!" Fritz cried, drawing and cocking his revolver. "Now, you coome on, uff you vant to get der whole dop off your head plowed off. I can do der job vid greatest of pleasure." The sight of the revolver caused the big loafer to pause. "Ye wouldn't shoot, when I'm only in fun, would you?" he asked, incredulously. "Well, just try me and see, dot's all," was the retort. "Your funniness vas entirely too t'in, mine friendt; I don'd vas like it. So I'll giff you one minnit der git oud. If you don'd vas gone py dot time, I vil shoot you so quicker ash I vould von leedle cat. One! Got ready, all der vile! Swi! High time you vas skinnin' oud! Three! Ven I hollers dot, if you don'd vas gone I spot you!" "Then, tearfully and sadly, I must tear myself away from you," the ruffian declared, with a grimace, as he stalked toward the door, "I'll allow ye hold ther grip now, but thet ain't sayin' ye'll allus hold it." Then he took his leave. Fritz was not sorry. He did not want to hurt any one unless forced to, and yet was bound to defend himself. Toward evening the loungers, one by one, quitted the tavern, until Fritz and Fat John were the only ones in the bar-room. Then it was that the latter spoke. "I say, young feller," he said, "you're a hextrordinary chap, and if it wouldn't be haskin' too much, I'd like to inquire what brings you here?" "Vel, pizness, I dinks," Fritz replied, "und judgin' py der latest demonstrations, I vil haff lots off id." "You had better look out sharp for Number One, I tell you, for though this ain't counted no hard town, they ginerally pitch onto a stranger and try to bulldoze him into leavin' by settin' Bully Jake onto him." "I vas tumbled to dot already," Fritz replied; "but der virst one vot attempted it didn't make so much success." "No; but that ain't saying you'll have as big luck next time. You see, his honor, Mr. Greyville, owns most of the property hereabouts, an' he's as big feeling as a duke, and won't allow no one around 'cept what bows to his will." "Vel, ve vil see apoud dot," Fritz muttered. "I dinks dey don'd vas make mooch bulldozing me. I vant to ask you von question--don'd this man Greyville be Captain Gregg, der smuggler?" The fat host of the Lion's Paw gave a start. The question was evidently something of a surprise to him. "Why, no, of course not! What ever put such an idea into your head, young man? Gregg the smuggler is said to be one of the worst characters along the Atlantic coast, and at the same time, the most successful in his line of business. Greyville is a man who would scorn to stoop to _such_ work; and, moreover, he is said to be immensely rich in ready cash, though his landed property is mortgaged for its full value." Fritz accepted this explanation without reply, but his mind was but little changed in the matter.