ank amazement. I could see
that though he recognized me, he was trying to make believe that he did
not; or, perhaps, he really doubted whether I was the man I seemed.

"That is my sword," I said, pointing to the weapon by his side, which had
been given to me by Carera.

"Your sword! What do you mean?" "You took it from me eleven years ago,
when I fell into your hands at San Felipe, and you hunted my friend Carmen
and myself with bloodhounds."

"What folly is this? Hunted you with bloodhounds, forsooth! Why, this is
the first time I ever set eyes on you--the man is mad--or drunk"
(addressing his friends).

"You lie, Griscelli; and you are not a liar merely, but a murderer and a
coward."

"_Por Dios_, you shall pay for this insult with your heart's blood!" he
shouted, furiously, half drawing his sword.

"It is like you to draw on an unarmed man." I said, laying hold of his
wrist. "Give me a sword, and you shall make me pay for the insult with my
blood--if you can. Senores" (by this time all the people in the _patio_
had gathered round us), "Senores, are there here any Venezuelan caballeros
who will bear me out in this quarrel. I am an Englishman, by name
Fortescue; eleven years ago, while serving under General Mejia on the
patriot side, I fell into the hands of General Griscelli, who deprived me
of the sword he now wears, which I received as a present from Senor
Carera, whose name you may remember. Then, after deceiving us with false
promises--my friend General Carmen and myself--he hunted us with his
bloodhounds, and we escaped as by a miracle. Now he protests that he never
saw me before. What say you, senores, am I not right in stigmatizing him
as a murderer and liar?"

"Quite right!" said a middle-aged, soldierly-looking man. I also served in
the war of liberation, and remember Griscelli's name well. It would serve
him right to poniard him on the spot."

"No, no. I want no murder. I demand only satisfaction."

"And he shall give it you or take the consequences. I will gladly act as
one witness, and I am sure my friend here, Senor Don Luis de Medina, who
is also a veteran of the war, will act as the other. Will you fight,
Griscelli?"

"Certainly--provided that we fight at once, and to the death. You can
arrange the details with my friends here."

"Be it so." I said, "_A la muerte._"

"To the death! To the death!" shouted the crowd, whose native ferocity was
now thoroughly roused.

After a short conferen