r to these affairs, and if I can
be of service I shall--"

"Thank you, Mr. Desmond," replied the English captain; "but I shall not
require your assistance. Lieutenant Arguellas, you may as well remain. I
am no duelist, and shall not fight M. Dupont."

"What does he say?" exclaimed the lieutenant, gazing with stupid
bewilderment round the circle. "Not fight!"

The Anglo-Saxon blood, I saw, flushed as hotly 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, Captain Starkey!" said Mr. Desmond, with grave
earnestness, after a painful pause: "you, whose name is in the list of the
British royal navy, say this! You must be jesting!"

"I am perfectly serious--I am opposed to dueling upon principle."

"A coward upon principle!" fairly screamed Dupont, with mocking fury, and
at the same time shaking his clenched fist at the Englishman.

The degrading epithet stung like a serpent. A gleam of fierce passion
broke out of Captain Starkey's dark eyes, and he made a step toward
Dupont, but resolutely checked himself.

"Well, it must be borne! I was wrong to offer you personal violence,
although your impertinence certainly deserved rebuke. Still, I repeat I
will not fight with you."

"But you _shall_ give my friend satisfaction!" exclaimed Lieutenant
Arguellas, who was as much excited as Dupont; "or, by Heaven, I will post
you as a dastard not only throughout this island but Jamaica!"

Captain Starkey for all answer to this menace coolly rang the _sonnette_,
and desired the slave who answered it to inform Senora Arguellas that he
was about to leave, and wished to see her.

"The brave Englishman is about to place himself under the protection of
your aunt's petticoats, Alphonso!" shouted Dupont, with triumphant
mockery.

"I almost doubt whether Mr. 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--"

Senora Arguellas at this moment approached, and the irate American with
some difficulty restrained 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 her visitors, as the French say, _plantes la_.

Ten minutes afterward we were i