judging from his deportment, might have supplied
the place of a rare curiosity in any cabinet of ancient relics. With
it in his hand the ancient veteran mounted a gun on the starboard
quarter, and shouted forth the ominous sound: 'I accept your
challenge--all ready?' A terrible movement was now perceptible among
the spectators on shore.

"'You ill-treated myself and officers while on shore a few days ago;
and you shall pay the penalty of your insult. I'll lick you; I'll be
damned if I don't,' answered the American, saucily.

"'You're spunk; but we'll take a little of it out, by the way of
reducing your pretensions--that's all. Now, my good cousin, just look
out for the shivering of your timbers. I'm going to load with grape, a
jolly mixture I shall slap right into you.'

"'That's e'en jist the medicine!' rejoined the Yankee: that's jist
what I'm going to load with; and if it won't kill, we'll take cogniac
canister! But old fellow, we'll larn ye how the Britishers can't take
the spunk out of us Yankees: s'pose ye come on board my craft, lay off
yer old notions, and play the good fellow in the jolly free-and-easy
way. We'll then consider the horrors of war; and see if the matter
can't be discussed in a different way atween decks.'

"'Well, seeing it's you--not a bad sort of a chap, by the way, I don't
much care if I do; but don't let go any grape until I gets under yer
lee--perhaps we'd better fight it out on your gun-deck. Captain, my
dear fellow (here the captain looked as good-natured as a turtle
studying law) any way to suit your own canister!' returned the
rear-admiral of Uncle John's best blue.

"'I say, while you are about it, Admiral,' rejoined the Yankee, with a
sort of half flirtish, half earnest air--while you are about to come
broad on, just bring all the good folks with you--and don't forget the
ladies; bring them, too. There's nothing like plenty of fair faces
when a strong battle is to be fought!' This was a right good say on
the part of Commodore Shubrick (such was the Yankee skipper's name),
who smiled all over his wrinkled face. It was quite enough. The
gallant Britisher's face, too, brightened up with good-nature, the
boatswain sounded his whistle, the savage guns disappeared in their
ports; the yards were manned with jolly tars, and away streaked the
admiral in his barge, skimming the sullen water, towards the Yankee,
under a heavy cannonade of grape. The ladies, loving and affectionate
souls! co