Year: 1874

he flung himself upon the deck, and, clasp
ing his hands, called out to Heaven for
mercy. Then, springing up, as the thun-
der rolled, pealing out greeting to the
recovering ship, he wrung his hand and
shrieked-


"Lost LOST 0 Cod! We are all
lost p


Then the calmness of the Captain be-
came sublime.


Not at all, my dear Major" said he,
in his blithest tone, "'pon my word you
are very unnecessarily excited-you are,
indeed" lrtfr gqF.


The Major, startled, and still pale and
trembling, skunk below.


But now the worst was over. Midnight
passed. The storm which had come on
quickly went away no less speedily. We
soon retired to our berths with our minds
at ease, and the breakfast-bell summoned
us from slumber to find a breeze propelling
the good ship merrily along.


The Major did not come out to break
fast. The Captain was there in his own
seat, still calm and placid, with the same
never-varying calmness.


The ladies, too, were there and the
lovely Ida, whose place was near that Of
the Captain, seemed willing to become
friendly again, and to forget all that
had occurred. But the Captain took little
notice of her.


At eleven o'clock we were all on the
quarterback 1t was calm, and the ship
lay motionless upon the sea- Tho Captain
sat with arms folded upon the skylight,
and looked forward. Beside him the cabin
boy knelt upon the deck, cleaning a pair
of as perfect duelling pistols as ever were
seen. They were splendidly mounted, and
bore the name of Captain Valmy. We
wondered what this was for.


The Major at last came upon deck. He
was dressed carefully, and evidently had
come to the conclusion that he would try
to do away with the effect which his con-
duct in the storm had produced upon our
minds.


With bold staggering air, he came to
the ladies, and commenced talking in his
old familiar way. Still the boy went on
rubbing the pistols. The sight of them
evidently put the Major in state of slight
uneasiness.


At last it was midday. The pistols
were finished and loaded. The Captain
rose. Taking one of them in his hand,
with the air of the duelist, he played with
it little while and then spoke


"Major Folsom, perhaps you remember
that yesterday you expressed an opinion
about my bravery-you challenged me-"


"oh my dear Captain" began the
Major.


GA coward" sternly continued the
Captain. Sand when l refused to fight a
duel you were loud in your complaints.
I did not think fit to tell you why would
not fight duel, but may do so soon."


"I will prove to you, however, that it
was not because l doubted my skill, or
practice with this little article. Do you
see that nail ?"


He pointed to tack which was stuck
in the mast which was small one with
round head.


The Captain raised his pistol-aimed-
fired.


The Major turned pale as death.


The rest of us uttered a cry of astonish-
ment. For when we looked the nail was
driven to the head.


"Now Major could pink you in every
part of that large somewhat cumbrous
body of yours. have laid low many a
better man than you"


"Look again" He took up the other
pistol.


"Boy, hold up that bullet between your
fingers"


The boy held up bullet between his
thumb and finger.


"Don't be alarmed, ladies, and gentle
men; this is feat often try"


Bang went the pistol. The bullet was
struck far from between the boys fingers,
and he, unhurt calmly walked away.


"And now, Major, we win settle our
little business" said the Captain, loading
the pistols.


at pray you, Captain Valmy," said Ida
Greville, stepping forward, edo stop. Let
this violence go no further What would
you have mortal combat in our presence ?"


81 wish to satisfy the Major" replied
Valmy. hN.


~ am satisfied, entirely satisfied and
perfectly agree with Miss Greville. would
not be so rude before her."


These words the Major stammered ont.