This defection of his followers recalled the leader, who was no coward, to himself again.
"Shut the gate, there!" he shouted.
As its two sides clashed together again, he turned deliberately to Clarence.
"That's all very well, young man, as regards the TITLE.

You may have BOUGHT up the land, and legally own every square inch of howling wilderness between this and San Francisco, and I wish you joy of your d--d fool's bargain; you may have got a whole circus like that," pointing to the gloomy Jim, "at your back.

But with all your money and all your friends you've forgotten one thing.

You haven't got possession, and we have." "That's just where we differ," said Clarence coolly, "for if you take the trouble to examine the house, you will see that it is already in possession of Mrs.Peyton,--MY TENANT." He paused to give effect to his revelations.

But he was, nevertheless, unprepared for an unrehearsed dramatic situation.