ly with his
interests to have his friend run the risk of his life. Both of the
principals were silent. Captain Bramble was exceedingly red in the face,
and evidently felt the bitterness of anger still keenly upon him; while
the open, manly features of his opponent wore the same placid aspect as
had characterized them while he leaned over the side of his own ship, or
gazed idly into the rippling waters that laved the dark hull.

It had been arranged that both parties should aim and fire between the
commencement and end of pronouncing the words, "one, two, three," by the
surgeon; and that individual, having placed his box of instrument with
professional coolness upon the ground, took his position to give the
signal agreed upon, when he said, in a preparatory tone:

"Gentlemen, are you ready?"

To which both answered by an inclination of the head, and then
immediately followed:

"One, two, three!"

Almost before the first word was fairly articulated, the sharp quick
report of Captain Bramble's pistol was heard, and the next moment he was
observed gazing intently upon his adversary, to see whether he had
wounded him, and observing that he had not, he dashed his weapon to the
ground, uttering a fierce oath at his luck.

In the meantime Captain Ratlin had not moved an inch, not even a muscle;
his hand containing the pistol had hung quietly at his side, and his
face still remained undisturbed. He had kept his word, and would not
fire upon the friend of the woman whom he truly respected, and
earnestly, devotedly, though hopelessly loved.

Captain Bramble paced back and forth like a caged lion, until at last,
coming opposite and near to his adversary, he coarsely remarked:

"It is much easier for a trembling hand to retain a perpendicular
position than to assume a horizontal one!"

Captain Ratlin understood the taunt, and stepping to where the English
officer had thrown his discharged weapon, he threw it high in the air,
and at the exact moment when the power of gravitation turned the piece
towards the earth, he quickly raised his arm and fired, sending the
bullet in his own pistol completely through the wooden stock of the
other. Then turning coolly to Captain Bramble, he said:

"A trembling hand, sir, is hardly so sure of its aim as that."

"This fellow is the evil one himself," whispered the surgeon to his
principal. "Come, let us on board, if he should insist upon at second
shot, we should be obliged to give him