insulting me!"

"I always took him for a poor chicken, from the first time I set eyes on
him," said one of the spectators.

"Yes, I didn't think much of him, when he refused to join us," was the
remark of another.

"This comes of so much crowing; Brag is a good dog, but Holdfast is
better," went on a third, and each man had his remark upon Colleton's
seeming timidity. Scorn and indignation were in all faces around him;
and Forrester, at length awakened from his stupor by the tide of fierce
comment setting in upon his friend from all quarters, now thought it
time to interfere.

"Come, 'squire, how's this? Don't give way--give him satisfaction, as he
calls it, and send the lead into his gizzard. It will be no harm done,
in putting it to such a creature as that. Don't let him crow over old
Carolina--don't, now, squire! You can hit him as easy as a barndoor, for
I saw your shot to-day; don't be afraid, now--stand up, and I'll back
you against the whole of them."

"Ay, bring him forward, Forrester. Let him be a man, if he can," was the
speech of one of the party.

"Come,'squire, let me say that you are ready. I'll mark off the ground,
and you shall have fair play," was the earnest speech of the woodman in
terms of entreaty.

"You mistake me greatly, Forrester, if you suppose for a moment that I
will contend on equal terms with such a wretch. He is a common robber
and an outlaw, whom I have denounced as such, and whom I can not
therefore fight with. Were he a gentleman, or had he any pretensions to
the character, you should have no need to urge me on, I assure you."

"I know that, 'squire, and therefore it provokes me to think that the
skunk should get off. Can't you, now, lay aside the gentleman just long
enough to wing him? Now, do try!"

The youth smiled as he shook his head negatively. Forrester, with great
anxiety, proceeded:--

"But, 'squire, they won't know your reason for refusing, and they will
set you down as afear'd. They will call you a coward!"

"And what if they do, Forrester? They are not exactly the people about
whose opinions I give myself any concern. I am not solicitous to gain
credit for courage among them. If any of them doubt it, let him try me.
Let one of them raise a hand or lift a finger upon me, and make the
experiment. They will then find me ready and willing enough to defend
myself from any outrage, come from what quarter it may."

"I'm afraid, 'squire, they can't be made to underst