r. Truefitt, briefly.

"Take your coat off," repeated Captain Sellers, sternly. He removed his
own after a little trouble, and rolling back his shirt sleeves stood
regarding with some pride a pair of yellow, skinny old arms. Then he
clenched his fists, and, with an agility astonishing in a man of his
years, indulged in a series of galvanic little hops in front of the
astounded Peter Truefitt.

"Put your hands up!" he screamed. "Put 'em up, you tailor's dummy! Put
'em up, you Dutchman!"

"Go out of my garden," repeated the marvelling Mr. Truefitt. "Go home
and have some gruel and go to bed!"

Captain Sellers paid no heed. Still performing marvellous things with
his feet, he ducked his head over one shoulder, feinted with his left at
Mr. Truefitt's face, and struck with his right somewhere near the
centre of his opponent's waistcoat. Mr. Truefitt, still gazing at
him open-mouthed, retreated backward, and, just as the captain's
parchment-like fist struck him a second time, tripped over a water-can
that had been left in the path and fell heavily on his back in a
flower-bed.

"Time!" cried Captain Sellers, breathlessly, and pulled out a big
silver watch to consult, as Miss Willett came hurrying down the garden,
followed by Mrs. Chinnery.

[Illustration: Time! cried Captain Sellers 248]

"Peter!" wailed Miss Willett, going on her knees and raising his head.
"Oh, Peter!"

"Has he hurt you?" inquired Mrs. Chinnery, stooping.

"No; I'm a bit shaken," said Mr. Truefitt, crossly. "I fell over that
bla--blessed water-can. Take that old marionette away. I'm afraid to
touch him for fear he'll fall to pieces."

"Time!" panted Captain Sellers, stowing his watch away and resuming his
prancing. "Come on! Lively with it!"

Miss Willett uttered a faint scream and thrust her hand out.

"Lor' bless the man!" cried Mrs. Chinnery, regarding the old gentleman's
antics with much amazement "Go away! Go away at once!"

"Time!" cried Captain Sellers.

She stepped forward, and her attitude was so threatening that Captain
Sellers hesitated. Then he turned, and, picking up his coat, began to
struggle into it.

"I hope it will be a lesson to him," he said, glaring at Mr. Truefitt,
who had risen by this time and was feeling his back. "You see what comes
of insulting an old sea-dog."

He turned and made his way to the gate, refusing with a wave of his hand
Mrs. Chinnery's offer to help him down the three steps leading to the
shore.