d man's son.

"Sir, you have killed my father, and I shall kill you," he said, in a calm
voice, but with intense passion. "Yes, I shall kill you, and if I fail my
cousins will kill you. If you escape us all, then we will charge our
children to avenge the death of the man you have this day slain. We are
Corsicans, and we never forgive. I know your name; mine is Giuseppe
Griscelli."

"You are distraught with grief, and know not what you say," I said as
kindly as I could, for I pitied the lad. "But let not your grief make you
unjust. Your father died in fair fight. If I had not killed him he would
have killed me, and years ago he tried to hunt me to death for his
amusement."

"And I and mine--we will hunt you to death for our revenge. Or will you
fight now? I am ready."

"No, I have no quarrel with you, and I should be sorry to hurt you."

"Go your way, then, but remember--"

"Better leave him; he seems half-crazed," interposed Medina. "Come into my
house while my slaves remove the body."

CHAPTER XXXV.

A NOVEL WAGER.

Three days afterward Carmen, apprised by his wife of my arrival, returned
to Caracas, and I became their guest, greatly to my satisfaction, for the
duel with Griscelli, besides making me temporarily famous, had brought me
so many friends and invitations that I knew not how to dispose of them.

In discussing the incident with Salvador, I expressed surprise that
Griscelli should have dared to return to a country where he had committed
so many cruelties and made so many enemies.

"He left Venezuela the year after you disappeared, and much is forgotten
in ten years," was the answer. "All the same, I don't suppose he would
have come back if Olivarez--the last president and a Yellow--had not made
it known that he would bestow commissions on Spanish officers of
distinction and give them commands in the national army. It was a most
absurd proceeding. But we shot Olivarez three months ago, and I will see
that these Spanish interlopers are sent out of the country forthwith, that
young spark who threatens to murder you, included."

"Let him stay if he likes. I doubt whether he meant what he said."

"I have no doubt of it, whatever, _amigo mio_, and he shall go. If he
stayed in the country I could not answer for your safety; and if you come
across any of the Griscellis in Europe, take my advice and be as watchful
as if you were crossing a river infested with _caribe_ fish."

Carmen was much d