Captain Delmar, if it is possible. I think that a little
blood must be taken from you immediately, and probably the fever may
subside."

But before his arm could be bound up, the captain became incoherent in
his discourse; and after the bleeding had been performed, when he
attempted to look at his papers, he was so confused that he found it
impossible, and was obliged to be put to bed immediately. When the
surgeon came out of his bed-room, he said to us, "He'll never get up to
fight that duel, depend upon it; the fever increases--it may be that he
may never rise again--I fear it is the yellow fever."

"A bad job," replied the master--"a very bad job indeed; two captains in
the navy receiving challenges, and both sending excuses on account of
illness. The service will be disgraced. I'll fight the soldier
myself."

"That will never do," replied the surgeon; "it will not help the captain
that he has sent one of his officers in his stead. Steward, make a bed
up here in this room; I shall not leave the house to-night."

"It's of no use my staying here," observed the master: "nor you either,
Keene: let's go on board, and we will be here early to-morrow morning.
Confounded bad job this. Good-bye."

The master and I returned to the boat. I had been reflecting a good
deal on the disgrace which would, at all events for a certain period, be
thrown upon the service and Captain Delmar by this unfortunate
circumstance, and before I had gone up the ship's side I had made up my
mind. As soon as we were on board, I requested the master to allow me
to speak to him in his cabin; and when we were there, after canvassing
the question, and pointing out to him what discredit would ensue, and
working him up into a great state of irritation, I then proposed to him
what I considered to be the best course to pursue. "Every one says how
like I am to Captain Delmar, Mr Smith," said I.

"If you were his own son, you could not be more so," replied the master.

"Well, sir, I am now as tall as he is: the colour of my hair is lighter,
certainly; but the captain wears a wig. Now, sir, I am perfectly sure
that if I were to put on the captain's uniform and wig, as the duel is
to take place in the evening, they never could find out that it was not
the captain; and as for a good shot, I think I can hit a button as well
as the best duellist in existence."

The master bit his lips, and was silent for a short time. At last he
said, "What you