ard. He
touched me once or twice.

"I call the bout a draw," declared Levert, who had himself observed
Broussard's unusual energy.

"Nay, not so, not so; he gives back. I've much the better," and he
lunged at me so vigorously I was forced to act with more aggression.
The button snapped from the point of his foil; I cared not, and he
affected not to see it, though something made me sure he realized his
advantage. I determined now to show him a trick of my own.

From my youth I had the peculiar faculty of using one hand quite as
well as the other, and had often practiced changing my sword swiftly
from right to left. It was a simple feat, much more showy than
difficult, yet exceedingly bewildering to an adversary. In this
instance it afforded me an easy means of reaching his undefended side.
So I feigned to be driven back, and watching for a more headlong and
careless rush, my weapon was apparently twisted from my hand and for an
instant seemed to hang suspended in the air. I caught it in my left
and before he recovered his footing had thrown his foil from him,
sending it whizzing overboard. It took but an instant to press my
point firmly against his chest, as he stood panting and disarmed.
Never was man more surprised.

"Bravely done," cried Levert.

"A most foul and dishonorable trick," Achille snarled.

"Not so," Levert corrected him gravely, looking at me to observe the
effect of the insult. I stood still at guard, but made no move.

"Broussard, you are angry now, and I'll take no heed of your heated
words. But to-morrow you must make a gentleman's amends."

"Tush, tush," Levert interposed, "'tis the quarrel of a child. He
means nothing."

Broussard said no more, but looked surly and ill pleased. I was
secretly elated at the success of my coup against such a skilled
swordsman, and only remarked quietly:

"Broussard, when your anger has passed I trust you will do me the honor
of an apology."

Behind it all I cared little, for I felt myself his master with his
chosen weapon and could afford to be generous. He came up in very
manly fashion, after a time, and craved my forgiveness, but we played
at foils no more.

The lookouts were beginning to watch for land, I growing more and more
impatient as the end of our voyage drew near. And now I had much
leisure to contemplate, and wonder at the strange turn of fortune which
had called upon me to play a part in the affairs of state, though what
the d