esult of the examination. He had been
confident that his victim would be committed for trial, but the
steward's testimony had saved him. He walked down towards his own
house; but he had not gone far before he discovered Mr. C. Augustus
Ebenier, going in the direction of the Point. With a little contrivance
on Dock's part, they came together out of sight and hearing of
everybody.

CHAPTER XII.

HOTEL DE POISSON.

If Mr. C. Augustus Ebenier had been a prudent colored man, he would
have avoided the meeting which Captain Dock Vincent contrived to bring
about, by dodging around the rocks, and again appearing in the
principal path. But he was not a prudent colored man; and when he saw
the dangerous individual before him, though he might easily have turned
aside so as to avoid him, he did not do so.

The steward was a very peaceable and well-disposed person on board the
yacht, and elsewhere, but under certain circumstances he was a
belligerent colored man. He had a very reasonable and decided objection
to being called a "nigger." He claimed that he was a gentleman, and
while he behaved like a gentleman, he declined to be insulted with
impunity. Mr. Ebenier saw the person who had applied this obnoxious
epithet to him during the examination. It is possible that his heart
beat a little quicker when he discovered the blackguard, as he regarded
him; but it is certain that he did not turn to the right or the left,
but proceeded on his way as though Dock had been a pygmy, instead of
the heavy, stout man he was.

"See here, you nigger," Dock began, when the steward was within hailing
distance.

"What do you want of me, you state-prison bird?" replied the colored
man.

"What's that you say?" demanded Dock, angrily.

"I asked you what you wanted of me, you state-prison bird," repeated
the steward.

"We'll settle that here," said Dock, rolling up his sleeves. "I don't
allow any man, white or black, to insult me."

"That's just my position exactly," added Mr. Ebenier, throwing off his
coat. "I don't allow any man, big or little, black or white, to insult
me."

The unexpected readiness of the steward to settle the question on the
spot rather startled and perplexed Dock, and he did not appear to be
quite so ready to "pitch in" as he supposed he was. It is sometimes
true of individuals, as it is of nations, that a readiness to fight is
the surest guarantee of peace.

"What do you mean by calling me a state-prison bi