sailors at New Haven and had had the
reputation of being a bad man in a quarrel. Of just what happened
there is a full account in a little army journal of that time called
_The Camp Gazette_. Burley aimed a blow at Solomon with his fist.
Then as Solomon used to put it, "the water bu'st through the dam." It
was his way of describing the swift and decisive action which was
crowded into the next minute. He seized Burley and hurled him to the
ground. With one hand on the nape of his neck and the other on the
seat of his trousers, Solomon lifted his enemy above his head and
quoited him over the tent top.

Burley picked himself up and having lost his head drew his hanger, and,
like a mad bull, rushed at Solomon. Suddenly he found his way barred
by Jack.

"Would you try to run a man through before he can draw?" the latter
asked.

Solomon's old sword flashed out of its scabbard.

"Let him come on," he shouted. "I'm more to hum with a hanger than I
be with good vittles."

Of all the words on record from the lips of this man, these are the
most immodest, but it should be remembered that when he spoke them his
blood was hot.

Jack gave way and the two came together with a clash of steel. A crowd
had gathered about them and was increasing rapidly. They had been
fighting for half a moment around the fire when Solomon broke the blade
of his adversary. The latter drew his pistol! Before he could raise
it Solomon had fired his own weapon. Burley's pistol dropped on the
ground. Instantly its owner reeled and fell beside it. The battle
which had lasted no more than a minute had come to its end. There had
been three kinds of fighting in that lively duel.

Solomon's voice trembled when he cried out:

"Ary man who says a word ag'in' the Great Father is goin' to git mussed
up."

He pushed his way through the crowd which had gathered around the
wounded man.

"Let me bind his arm," he said.

But a surgeon had stood in the crowd. He was then doing what he could
for the shattered member of the hot-headed Colonel Burley. Jack was
helping him. Some men arrived with a litter and the unfortunate
officer was quickly on his way to the hospital.

Jack and Solomon set out for headquarters. They met Putnam and two
officers hurrying toward the scene of the encounter. Solomon had
fought in the bush with him. Twenty years before they had been friends
and comrades. Solomon saluted and stopped the grizzled hero of many a