"When I tell of Kaintock I tell what these men are.
Suffice it now to say that, of their own accord and by their own hands, they have made war upon Spain.

They have stolen away a boat of mine, loaded with arms and stores, they have fired upon His Majesty's subjects, and one of them has slain a Natchez trailer, a faithful, valuable man in my service." When Alvarez spoke of The Cat, he pointed at Shif'less Sol--he was acting on a hint of Wyatt's.

The look of Alvarez followed the accusing finger, but the shiftless one rose undaunted.
"That part of what he tells is true," said Shif'less Sol.

"I slew that Injun--an' a meaner face I never saw in fa'r fight.

He slipped upon me in the dark to murder me, an' thar wuzn't nothin' else left fur me to do." Freed of his speech and his wrath, the shiftless one sat down again.
Alvarez and the renegade gave him looks of sneering incredulity, but the look of Bernardo Galvez was one of interest and surprise.
"What of the other charges ?" he asked, turning to Paul, the spokesman.
The gift of imagination often implies the orator's tongue and Paul had an inspired moment.