he ladies, the governor having politely asked them to do so when they chose. The othe

amicable enough, if the sharing of a bottle were anything to the point. But they were sitting almost the full lengt

drinking with a kind of mannered coolness. Gering's face was flushed, his fine nostrils were swelling viciously, his teeth showed white against his red lips, and his eyes glinted. There was a kind of devilry

ound enemy with a malicious adroitness. The aboriginal passions were strong in him. He had come of a people which had to do with essentials in the matter of emotions. To love, to hate, to fight, to explore, to hunt, to b

embered, also with something of irony, the words that Jessica had used that afternoon when she came out of the sunshine into the ante-room of the governor's chamber. She had waved her hand into the distance and had said: "Foolish boy!" He knew very well that that part of the game was turned against him, but

Gering, in a low, angry v

of his mouth became dry; never in his life had he been called a liar. T

got to his feet and leaned over the table, speaking in words that dr

ad not time to see more, for just then he was called by the governor, and passed into the room where Mammon, for the

but one way. Well?

and that he could ask no one to stand his second; also that it would not be possible to arrange a formal duel between opposites so young as Gering and hi

. "By the governor's leave," he said, and took them down. "Since we are to ruffle him let him furnish the spurs-eh? Shall we use these, and so be even as to weapons? But see," he added, with a burst of frankness, "I am in a-a trouble."

delivered," said Gering

ce I should be killed," added Ibervi

l; "we may be seen. There is another way into the grounds through a little hall here." He turned and opened a door alm

ooked a fine brass lantern, of old Dutch workmanship, swung fro

e way. He had not conned his surroundings that afternoon for nothing, and when they had reached a quiet place among some firs he hung the lantern to the branch of a tree, openi

llway, she had heard Gering shoot the bolts. Now, the chamber was in a corner, so that the window faced another way, but the incident seemed strange to her, and she stood for a momen

" she said, "whe

is in his ro

ith him?"

urged. "Mr. Gering and Monsi

ce where the swords were used to hang

around quickly, running, as she did so, with a kind of blind instinct towards the clump of firs. Presently she saw a little stream of light in the trees. Always a creature of abundant energy and sprightliness, she swept through the nig

e behind the other, and the sight of her stayed his arm. It was but for a breath, but it served.

er. At that moment Morris burst in also. "In God's name," he said, "is this your honouring of the king's governor! Ye that have eat and drunk at his table the night! Have ye nae sense o' your m

ly wrung the blood from his white sleeve. The girl saw him, and knew that he was wounded. She sn

red coolly, winding the scarf about hi

th anger; his voice was not excited. Immediately, howe

ves you pain." Gering came near to her, and Iberville could see that a flush stole ove

nder his breath. "Good! h

d gone. Then they all started back towards the house. It did not seem incongruous to Iberville and Gering to walk side by side; theirs was a superior k

said, and was swallowed by the darkness. "Which does she mean?

ell them that they might come, fo