g about duelling."

"Yes, yes, I've kept the best company, Mr Gascoigne, and I can give a
gentleman satisfaction; but--"

"Then, sir, if that is the case, you must know that your honour is in
the hands of your second, and that no gentleman appeals."

"Yes, yes, I know that, Mr Gascoigne; but still I've no quarrel with
Mr Biggs, and therefore, Mr Biggs, of course you will not aim at me."

"Why, you don't think that I'm going to be fired at for nothing,"
replied the boatswain; "no, no, I'll have my shot anyhow."

"But at your friend, Mr Biggs?"

"All the same, I shall fire at somebody; shot for shot, and hit the
luckiest."

"Vel, gentlemen, I purtest against these proceedings," replied Mr
Easthupp; "I came here to have satisfaction from Mr Easy, and not to be
fired at by Mr Biggs."

"Don't you have satisfaction when you fire at Mr Easy," replied the
gunner; "what more would you have?"

"I purtest against Mr Biggs firing at me."

"So you would have a shot without receiving one," cried Gascoigne: "the
fact is, that this fellow's a confounded coward, and ought to be kicked
into the cooperage again."

At this affront Mr Easthupp rallied, and accepted the pistol offered by
the gunner.

"You ear those words, Mr Biggs; pretty language to use to a gentleman.
You shall ear from me, sir, as soon as the ship is paid off. I purtest
no longer, Mr Tallboys; death before dishonour. I'm a gentleman,
damme!"

At all events, the swell was not a very courageous gentleman, for he
trembled most exceedingly as he pointed his pistol.

The gunner gave the word, as if he were exercising the great guns on
board ship.

"Cock your locks!"--"Take good aim at the object!"--"Fire!"--"Stop your
vents!"

The only one of the combatants who appeared to comply with the latter
supplementary order was Mr Easthupp, who clapped his hand to his
trousers behind, gave a loud yell, and then dropped down: the bullet
having passed clean through his seat of honour, from his having
presented his broadside as a target to the boatswain as he faced towards
our hero. Jack's shot had also taken effect, having passed through both
the boatswain's cheeks, without further mischief than extracting two of
his best upper double teeth, and forcing through the hole of the farther
cheek the boatswain's own quid of tobacco. As for Mr Easthupp's ball,
as he was very unsettled, and shut his eyes before he fired, it had gone
the Lord knows where.

The purser's