the first attempt having failed , blincoln would have withdrawn , but demane confronted him : a head shorter than the lieutenant and some fifty pounds at least lighter , a slim dark figure trembling with rage , and he said , `` you are a coward , and if you try and steal kulingile again - `` he stumbled to a halt , not so much reluctant to threaten as unsure precisely to what degree , and blincoln said , `` i hope , '' with an air of stuffy superciliousness , `` mr. demane , that you have better sense than to indulge in histrionics and unreasonable expectations : no heavy-weight can be managed by a young boy .