human
Look here! he cried,
gpt
About a hundred and fifty stand, sir,
human
Now they can't help us a whole lot, propounded Ware.
gpt
They are too few. But why can't we use them for bait, to get those people on the wrong side of the fence?
human
What do you mean?
gpt
Suppose they are shipped from Benicia to the armouries in the city; they are legally Federal property until they are delivered, aren't they?
human
Certainly.
gpt
Well, if the Stranglers should happen to seize them while they're still Federal property, they've committed a definite offence against the United States, haven't they?
human
What do we care about that now?
gpt
Hold on! he cried.
human
If we ship them in a boat, the seizure will be piracy. If they intercept those arms, they're pirates, and we can legally call on the Federal forces--_and they'll be compelled to respond, egad!_
gpt
They're pretty smart; suppose they smell a rat?
human
Then we'll have the muskets where we want them, anyway. It's worth trying,
gpt
I know just the man, put in Terry.
human
I'll send for him.