Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-02-05
VOL. vi.

all in an instant on their feet, and apparently
sobe.ed, or nearly so, by the unfortunate issue
of the wordy tumult
Captain Starkey was the first to speak. His
flushed angry features paled suddenly to an al
most deadly white, and he .tammered out: /
beg your pardon, M. Dupont. 1t was wrong
very wrong in me to do so, though not mex
cusable'
Pardon Mile tonnerresn shouted Dupont,
who was capering about in an ecstacy Of rage,
and wiping his face with his handkerchief
Yes, bullet through your head shall pardon
you-nothing lessr
Indeed, according to the then notions of Gu
ban society, no alternative save the duello ap-
peared possible. Lieutenant Arguel!as hurried
at once into the house, and speedily returned
with brace Of pistols. Let us proceed he
said in quick whisper, to the grove yonder
we shall be free from interruption He took
Dupont's arm, and both turned to move of. As
they did SO, Mr.. Desmond, the elder of the
American gentlemen, stepped toward Captain
Starkey, who with recovered calmness, and
with his arms folded, was standing by the table
and said, l am not entirely, my good sir,
stranger to these affairs, and if can be of ser
vice shall
Thank you, Mr. Desmond, replied the Eng
lish captain but shall not require your as
sistauce. Lieut.. Arguellas, you may as well
remain. am no duellist, and shall nst fight
M. Dupont
what does he say! exclaimed the Lieut.,
gazing with stupid bewilderment round the cir
Gle. Not fght!'
The Anglo-Saxon blood, saw, flushed as
holly in the veins of the Americans as it did
in mine at this exhibition of the white feather
by one of our race. Not fight, Capt. Star
key y said Mr.. Desmond, with grave earnest
ness, after painful pause you, whose name
is in the list of the British royal navy say this
You must be jestingn
: am perfectly serious Il am opposed to du-
elling, upon principle
A coward, upon principle y fairly screamed
Dupont, with mocking fury, and at the same
time shaking his clenched fist at the English
man.
The degrading eplthet stung like serpent
A CLEAN of fierce passion broke out of Cap
tain Starkey's dark eyes, and he made step
towards Dupont, but resolulely checked HIM
self.
Well, it must be borne, was wrong to Of
fer you personal violence, although your imper-
tinence deserved rebuke. Still, repeat, l will
not fight with you
Rut you shall give my friend satisfaction =
exclaimed Lieut.. Arguellas, who was as much
excited as Dupont; 'or by heaven l will post
you as bastard, not only throughout this is
land, but Jamaica!'
Captain Starkey, for all answer to this me-
mace, coolly rang the sonnette, and desired the
slave who answered it to inform Sonora Argu-
elias that he was about to leave, and wished to
see her.
The brave Englishman is about to place
himself under the protection of your aunts pet
ticoats, Alphonso!' shouted Dupont, with tri-
umphant mockery.
Il almost doubt whether Captain Starkey is
an Englishman,' exclaimed Mr. Desmond,
who, as well as his two friends. was getting
pretty much incensed but, at all events, as
my father and mother were born and raised in
the old country, if you presume to insinuate
| that
Sonora Arguellas at this moment approached,
and the irate American with some difficulty re-
strained himself. The lady appeared surprised
at the strange aspect of the company she had so
lately left. She however, at the request of the
captain, instantly led the way into the house,
leaving the rest of the vsiters, as the French
say, plantes Ia.
Ten minutes afterwards, we were informed
that Capt. Starkey had left the house, after i'm
pressing upon Sonora Arguellas that the Nep-
tune would sail the next morning precisely a,
o'clock. A renewed torrent of rage, contempt
and scorn broke forth at this announcement,
and duel at one time seemed inevitable between
Lieut.. Arguellas and Mr.. Desmond, the last
named gentleman manifesting great anxiety 10
shoot somebody or other, in vindication of his
Anglo-Saxon lineage. This, however, was
overruled, and the party broke up in angry dis
order.
We were all on board at the appointed time
on the following morning. Captain Starkey
received US with civil Indifference, and no.
ticed that the elaborate sneers which sat upon
the countenances of Dupont and the Lieut.. did
not appear in the slightest degree to rnffle or
affect him; but the averted eve and scornful air
OF Donna Antonia, as she passed with Sonora
Arguellas towards the cabin, drawing her man.
'illa tightly round her as she swept by, as if
so perhaps wrongfully interpreted the action
it wonld be soled by contact with poltroon,
visibly touched him-only, however, for a few
brief moments. The expression of pain ouick-
lv vanished, and his countenance was as cold
and stern as before. There was, albeit. il was
soon found, limit to this, it seemed con,empt-
uous forbearance. Dupont, approaching him,
gave his thought audible expression, exclaim-
ing, loud enough for several of the crew to hear
and looking into the captains face, Lacher -
He would have turned away, but was arrested
by gripe of steel.
Eeoutez, monsieur said Captain Starkey ;
individually, hold for nothing whatever you
may say; but | am captain and king in this
ship, and will hermit m nm. a., LJ L.