“Do you know,” he softly began, “you have been in great danger. You have the quality of making men like you to an unusual extent. You also have the knack of maddening men. For the moment my Creek streak told me to kill you. I am glad I did not give in to it.” “So am I,” said Sevier, pulling a pistol from the breast of his hunting-shirt. “For I should have acted on an impulse, perhaps, and defended myself.” McGillivray’s eyes half closed as he watched Sevier twirl the pistol. “You came in here to have wine and cakes,” he murmured. “And you brought a deadly weapon with you.” “You have a long knife inside your coat,” smiled Sevier. “What do you propose doing?” “Make up for my part in our bad manners,” laughed Sevier, taking the pistol by the muzzle and handing it across the table. McGillivray’s eyes flew open. He smiled graciously and murmured: “A gallant gentleman. I meet you half way. Wine and weapons do not go well together.” And pulling a knife from inside his coat he tossed it and the pistol on a couch at the side of the room. Speaking sorrowfully, he said: “Sevier, I have just shown you a wonderful world and you interrupted to ask silly questions. God knows you nearly drove me out of my reason. I can’t bear to have commonplace objections thrown at me when I am painting a picture of new kingdoms. I took you up where you could see yourself as one of the great men of America and you didn’t seem to sense it.” “If you showed me the whole world from the top of a mountain it wouldn’t tempt me any, Alexander McGillivray, so long as I knew misery and injustice dwelt at the foot of the mountain.” “Will you go with me to Governor Miro at Pensacola?” “Only as your prisoner—by force.” “But Miro is a friend of your friend, of the man who hates me, James Robertson.” “Miro has been friendly with Jim; but Jim understands that Miro never lets courtesy or friendship interfere with his master’s orders. If Charles III says for Miro to do a thing, Don Estephan Miro does it, regardless of whom it hits or hurts.” McGillivray bowed his head and sighed, and said: “Then I must go beyond what I expected would be necessary, beyond my own inclination; for it is not according to my best judgment. But so be it. You are a stubborn man, John Sevier. I will agree with you that we can form no allegiance with Spain. Say the word and I will inform Don Miro to that effect.” “What is that word?” “That you will form an independent Government out of the Western settlements.” “No!” “The central Government will not oppose you.” “That makes no difference.” “The West is ripe for the move.” “The move will not be made.”