man--well, he should see that the wasp could give as good as it got. His
big gnarled hand enclosed the hand of Barode Barouche, then he suddenly
closed on it tight. He closed on it till he felt it crunching in his own
and saw that the face of Barode Barouche was like that of one in a chair
of torture. He squeezed, till from Barouche's lips came a gasp of agony,
and then he let go.

"You've had my love-clasp, m'sieu'," Denzil said with meaning, "and when
you want it again let me know. It's what M'sieu' Carnac will do with
you to-morrow night. Only he'll not let go, as I did, before the blood
comes. Don't be hard on those under you, m'sieu'. Remember wasps and
spiders can sting in their own way, and that dogs can bite."

"Little black beast," was the short reply, "I'll strip your hide for
Hell's gridiron in good time."

"Bien, m'sieu', but you'll be in hell waiting, for I'm going to bury you
here where you call better men than yourself dogs and wasps and spiders
and beetles. And I'll not strip your 'hide,' either. That's for lower
men than me."

A moment later they parted, Denzil to find Junia, and Barouche to
prepare his speech for the evening. Barouche pondered. What should he
do--should he challenge Carnac with his marriage with Luzanne Larue? His
heart was beating hard.

CHAPTER XXVI. THE CHALLENGE

The day of the election came. Never had feeling run higher, never had
racial lines been so cut across. Barode Barouche fought with vigour, but
from the going of Luzanne Larue, there passed from him the confidence
he had felt since the first day of Carnac's candidature. He had had
temptation to announce to those who heard him the night before the poll
what Luzanne had told; but better wisdom guided him, to his subsequent
content. He had not played a scurvy trick on his son for his own
personal advantage. Indeed, when his meetings were all over, he was
thankful for the disappearance of Luzanne. At heart he was not all bad.
A madness had been on him. He, therefore, slept heavily from midnight
till morning on the eve of the election, and began the day with the
smile of one who abides the result with courage.

Several times he came upon Carnac in the streets, and they saluted
courteously; yet he saw the confidence of Carnac in his bearing. Twice
also he came upon Junia and he was startled by the look she gave him.
It was part of his punishment that Junia was the source of his undoing
where Luzanne was concerned. J