He paused, realizing the difficulty of making clear so complicated and paradoxical a position, while an outburst of derisive laughter fell on the pause as he reached his period. Then someone made ironic comment: "Hit's all beginnin' ter come out now. Ye aims ter hev everybody else fergive thar enemies an' lay down like lambs tergither--atter ye gits teetotally done with yore own shootin' an avengin'." But Hump Doane seized the hickory staff that leaned against old Jim's chair and pounded with it on the table. "Silence!" he roared; "suffer ther feller ter git through!" "I don't aim ter bushwack ner layway nobody," went on Thornton, obdurately. "Hit wouldn't content me ef I wasn't facin' my enemy when I sottled with him--an' hit's a private business--but this other matter te'ches everybody. Hit denotes y'ars of blood-spillin' an' murder--of women an' children sufferin' fer causes thet hain't no wise th'ar fault ner doin'." The cripple still stood regarding the man by the hearth with a brow knit in absorption, and so tense was his expression that it seemed to bind the others to a brief, waiting silence until Hump himself slowly broke the tension. "I said I aimed ter give ye a chanst ter hev yore say out.... Hev ye got fur enough ter let me ask ye a question?" The nodded head of assent gave permission and Doane inquired briefly: "Does I onderstand ye ter plead fer ther Harpers an' ther Doanes ter 'bide by ther old truce--an' yit ter seek ter stand free yore own self an' kill yore own enemy?" Old Jim Rowlett leaned forward gripping his staff head with eyes of incredulity, and from the chest of the others sounded long-drawn breaths, inarticulate yet eloquent of scorn and sneering repudiation. But Parish Thornton retained the earnest and resolute poise with which he had spoken before as he made his answer. "I means thet I don't aim ter suffer no craven betrayal an' not hit back. I means thet ther feller thet sought my murder is _my man ter kill_, but I aims ter kill him in f'ar combat. Hit jest lays between him an' me an' hit hain't no Harper-Doane affair, nohow." Hump Doane shook his head and there was in the gesture both decisiveness and disappointment. "What commenced ter look like a mighty hopeful chanst falls flat right hyar an' now," he announced. "I'd begun ter hope thet atter all a leader hed done riz up amongst us, but I sees when ye talks erbout peace ye means a peace fer other folks thet don't bind ner hamper yoreself. Thar hain't nuthin' but folly in seekin' ter build on a quicksand like thet." "I told ye fust-off thet we war a-wastin' time an' breath," broke out Opdyke, furiously. "A man only courts trouble when he seeks ter gentle a rattlesnake--ther seemly thing ter do air ter kill hit." Parish Thornton turned his eyes and studiously appraised the hare-brained advocate of violence, then he said, again addressing Hump Doane: