.. and he had developed
beautiful muscles, each one of which stood out, like a turn in a rope,
of itself.
Vinton was sent to oust me, by force if need be.
I really was afraid of him when he strode up to me, as I lay there
reading the _Revolt of Islam_ again.
With a big voice he began to hint, mysteriously, that it would be wise
for me to clear out. I showed him that I held a clear title and right to
sojourn there till Christmas, if I chose to, as the bishop's wife had
paid for the site till that time, and had then transferred the use of
the location to me. I showed him her letter ... with the Tallahassee
postmark.
His only answer was, that he knew nothing about that ... that Barton
wanted the place, and, that if I wouldn't vacate peaceably--and he
looked me in the eyes like some great, calm animal.
Though my heart was pounding painfully, against, it seemed, the very
roof of my mouth, I compelled my eyes not to waver, but to look fiercely
into his....
"Are you going to start packing?"
"No, I am not going to start packing."
"I can break your neck with one twist," and he illustrated that feat
with a turn of one large hand in the air.
He came slowly in, head down, as if to pick me up and throw me down.
I waited till he was close, then gave him an upward rip with all my
might, a blow on the forehead that made the blood flow, and staggered
him with consternation.
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