He knew the penalty which attached itself to the words he had just spoken, and he expected to receive it.

So he was not overmuch surprised when he picked himself up from the floor of the cockpit an instant later, his head still ringing from a stiff blow between the eyes.
"Say dat one time more," French Pete bullied, his fist raised and prepared to strike.
Tears of anger stood in Joe's eyes, but he was calm and in deadly earnest.
"When you say I am a thief, Pete, you lie.

You can kill me, but still I will say you lie." "No, you don't!" 'Frisco Kid had darted in like a cat, preventing a second blow, and shoving the Frenchman back across the cockpit.
"You leave the boy alone!" he continued, suddenly unshipping and arming himself with the heavy iron tiller, and standing between them.

"This thing 's gone just about as far as it 's going to go.

You big fool, can't you see the stuff the boy 's made of?
He speaks true.