He dared
not turn round, for the other men were facing him. He did not move, but
the girl did. "Coward!" she said, and raised her pistol at Borotte,
standing with her back against Pierre's.
There was a pause, in which no one stirred, and then the girl, slowly
walking up to Borotte, her pistol levelled, said: "You low coward--to
shoot a man from behind; and you want to be a decent girl's husband!
These men that say they're my brothers are brutes, but you're a sneak.
If you stir a step I'll fire."
The cowardice of Borotte was almost ridiculous. He dared not harm the
girl, and her brothers could not prevent her harming him. Here there
came a knocking at the front door. The other brothers had come, and
found it locked. Pierre saw the crisis, and acted instantly. "The girl
and I--we will fight you to the end," he said, "and then what's left of
you the law will fight to the end. Come," he added, "the old man can't
live a week. When he's gone then you can try again. She will have what
he owns. Quick, or I arrest you all, and then--"
"Let her go," said Borotte; "it ain't no use." Presently the elder
brother broke out laughing. "Damned if I thought the girl had the pluck,
an' damned if I thought Borotte was a crawler. Put an eye out of him,
Liddy, an' come to your brother's arms. Here," he added to the others,
"up with your popguns; this shindy's off; and the girl goes back till the
old man tucks up.
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