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 of the pistols across the table. Nobody touched it.

Colonel Spottiswoode rose, put the weapons back in their box and handed it to Shield. "Mr. Shields, will you kindly take charge of these until we reach Gibralter? That is the nearest port. A gentleman will meet me there to act as my second. Count Castelleone, I believe you are the first; Baron von Reifenstein comes next. Then I shall have the honor of meeting Signore Torreale."

The Italians stared at each other. These terms meant that somebody might get hurt. Castelleone, being the first, began to realize that he stood a chance of having something unpleasant happen to him.

Young Shields walked out of the cabin, some distance behind the Colonel. "Well," he thought; "I can't make out how much of this is bluff. But I'd hate to be in those fellows' shoes, shivering all the way to Gibraltar, and hoping it's a mistake."