rd?" demanded Dock, in
less confident tones.

"What do you mean by calling me a nigger?" retorted the steward.

"Well, you are one--aren't you?"

"Well, you are a state-prison bird--aren't you?"

"Don't say that again!" said Dock, shaking his head.

"I'll say it twenty-five times more, if you call me a nigger as many
times as that."

"Aren't you a black man?"

"I am; but my heart isn't half so black as yours. I'm not a nigger,"
protested the colored man, stoutly; and it was evident in this instance
that the negro would fight, which was just the thing Dock didn't wish
him to do.

"Whatever you are, I won't dirty my hands licking a nigger," added the
bully.

"But I'll dirty mine by licking a state-prison bird, and you shall have
the satisfaction of being licked by a black man," said the steward,
stepping up towards his burly antagonist.

"Cool off, cuffee; I was only joking with you," continued Dock, with a
mighty effort to laugh.

"Don't call me cuffee. My name is C. Augustus Ebenier, and I am ready
to teach you good manners, without fee or reward."

"Never mind, Mr. What's-your-name."

"If you wish to apologize, do so, or I'll soil my boot by kicking you."

"Apologize to a nigger!" exclaimed Dock.

The steward kicked him. This was more than Dock could stand, and he
levelled a blow at the spunky assailant, which was parried. Dock was
heavy, but he was clumsy, and before he could repeat the stroke, the
hard fist of the colored man had settled under one of his eyes, leaving
its mark there--a black eye. The bully retreated under the stunning
force of the blow, and picked up a stone, which he hurled at his
opponent, but fortunately without hitting him. Mr. C. Augustus Ebenier
appeared to be satisfied with what he had done, and he did not follow
up his advantage, but picked up a stone, to intimate that two could
play at that game as well as one.

"We'll settle this another time," said Dock, wiping his black eye.

"You wanted to settle it now, and you have," replied the steward. "If I
can do anything more for you, all you have to do is to call me a
nigger, and I'll put your other eye into mourning."

"I'll see you again," said Dock, in threatening tones, as he turned and
walked away towards his house.

The steward put on his coat, and moved towards the landing-place,
beyond the chasm. Since the examination, he had been promenading the
town to see the place, or, what is quite as likely, to permit the
i