Year: 1874

few commonplace words and turned to go.


At that moment Major Folsom came to-
wards them. He.rudely thrust himself be-
tween the two, and planting his heavy foot
on that of the Captain, he offered his arm
to Miss Greville and led her away.


The Captain bore the agonizing pain
without word; his face remained calm
and merely little light famed in his eye.
Calmly he watched them till they went
below.


"All hands to take in top-gallant sails"
he cried, and the sailors clambered in obe-
dience. .t


In few moments the Major appeared
The Captain walked up as calm as ever
The Major looked surprised Still Captain
Valmy looked unawed. Walking boldly up
to the Major, and before the latter could
turn away, he struck him stunning blow
on his face with the back of his hand.


"That's in payment for insult,'' said he,
quietly.


Had the heavens above him, or the sea
beneath him, opened, the Major could not
have been more thunder-struck. He was
utterly silent for full minute, during
which time his face worked strangely, and
he foamed p. the mouth. Then with a
tremendous oath, he rushed upon the Cap
tain. We looked on with beating hearts.
We were anxious for the result In mo-
ment our blood rushed like fire through
every vein, and an eXulting shout rang
from the few passengers who were specta-
tors of the scene.


For the Captain, as calmly and placidly
as ever, threw himself into the most scien-
tific of attitudes, and as the Major rushed
at him, he nimbly stretched out his foot,
and, with practiced hand, gave him q
lightning like blow between the eyes,
knocking him down and sending him reel
ing across the deck.


"That's for tramping my foot, Major, y
said the Captain, in a mocking tone.


The Major slowly rose. Meanwhile, the
shout which we had given had brought all
the passengers on deck. Ida and her
mother came up also.


"Ill have your hearts blood 7" cried the
Major.


In moment the agile Captain leaped
toward him, and by another nimble appli-
cation of his foot, had laid him low. The
Major fell with tremendous force.


GAN hands take in mizzen top-gallant
sail ~ cried the Captain.


AS he uttered these words, the Major
rose and made a last rush at the Captain.
This time he was seized in moment by
an iron grasp, That small body of the
Captain was possessed of amazing strength.
The Captain held his wrists over his back,
and then combining them there in most
painful position, he calmly led him toward
the companion-way. Then with the Ma
jor bent double, he walked him down
stairs.


"This is for being violent and disre-
spectful before ladies'" we heard the Cap
tain say as they disappeared.


In a few moments he came again on
deck, not nerve excited, not in the least
ruffled.


"Al hands man and doube-reef fore
and mzzen top-sail p he cried in a voice Of
thunder.


The sailors flew like bees among the
rigging. But little was said The Captain
began to appear in new light. We won
dered how it would end. There will be a
duel, Of course.


The Captain overheard us say this.


Gentlemen, there will be no such
thing. am averse to dueling."


He spoke very calmly, yet decsively.


Dinner time came. AS the bell rang,
the Captain came down to bis seat. The
Major in a few moments came from his
state-room, naughty and pale, with dark
circle around his eye. He did not venture
to interfere with the Captain. He sat in a
seat at one side, and was very silent. The
Captain said but little. He looked anx-
iously up once or twice to see the weather
through the slzy-light, but little was said
by him.


After dinner, we sat down, and the Cap
tain stood looking at the barometer The
Major approached and handed him note
The Captain took it, and reading with a
smile, he carelessly tossed it aside.


Pooh p said he, ~ do not fight duels
! have something moro important to at
tend to-" ah


Wbatp' cried the Major, in scorn and
indignation.


81 do not fight duels," replied the Cap
tain.


"Do you mean TO say that you will not