PAUL AND THE SPANIARD Francisco Alvarez never suffered from the vice of humility.

While he was planning to make himself Governor General of Louisiana he thought also that the selection was a most admirable one.

Nor would he have condescended now to cross a blade with this boy from the backwoods, but his pride had been bitterly hurt by the deeds of Paul and his comrades.
Such presumption must be punished, and the punishment must be of a humiliating kind.
The Spaniard took the point of his sword between his thumb and forefinger and bent the blade a little.

The steel was flexible and true.

Then he put himself on guard, and physically he was a splendid figure of a man, tall, compact, and obviously skilled with his weapon.
Long Jim Hart writhed again in his bonds.