Part 29 (1/2)

”America for the Americans, and confusion to all foreign interlopers-- especially the d.a.m.ned Iris.h.!.+”

On delivering the obnoxious sentiment, he staggered back a pace; which brought his body in contact with that of the mustanger--at the moment standing with the gla.s.s raised to his lips.

The collision caused the spilling of a portion of the whisky and water; which fell over the mustanger's breast.

Was it an accident? No one believed it was--even for a moment.

Accompanied by such a sentiment the act could only have been an affront intended and premeditated.

All present expected to see the insulted man spring instantly upon his insulter. They were disappointed, as well as surprised, at the manner in which the mustanger seemed to take it. There were some who even fancied he was about to submit to it.

”If he does,” whispered Hanc.o.c.k in Sloman's ear, ”he ought to be kicked out of the room.”

”Don't you be alarmed about that,” responded the infantry officer, in the same _sotto voce_. ”You'll find it different. I'm not given to betting, as you know; but I'd lay a month's pay upon it the mustanger don't back out; and another, that Mr Ca.s.sius Calhoun will find him an ugly customer to deal with, although just now he seems more concerned about his fine s.h.i.+rt, than the insult put upon him. Odd devil he is!”

While this whispering was being carried on, the man to whom it related was still standing by the bar--to use a hackneyed phrase, ”the observed of all observers.”

Having deposited his gla.s.s upon the counter, he had drawn a silk handkerchief from his pocket, and was wiping from his embroidered s.h.i.+rt bosom the defilement of the spilt whisky.

There was an imperturbable coolness about the action, scarce compatible with the idea of cowardice; and those who had doubted him perceived that they had made a mistake, and that there was something to come. In silence they awaited the development.

They had not long to wait. The whole affair--speculations and whisperings included--did not occupy twenty seconds of time; and then did the action proceed, or the speech which was likely to usher it in.

”_I_ am an Irishman,” said the mustanger, as he returned his handkerchief to the place from which he had taken it.

Simple as the rejoinder may have appeared, and long delayed as it had been, there was no one present who mistook its meaning. If the hunter of wild horses had tweaked the nose of Ca.s.sius Calhoun, it would not have added emphasis to that acceptance of his challenge. Its simplicity but proclaimed the serious determination of the acceptor.

”You?” scornfully retorted Calhoun, turning round, and standing with his arms _akimbo_. ”You?” he continued, with his eye measuring the mustanger from head to foot, ”you an Irishman? Great G.o.d, sir, I should never have thought so! I should have taken you for a Mexican, judging by your rig, and the elaborate st.i.tching of your s.h.i.+rt.”

”I can't perceive how my rig should concern you, Mr Ca.s.sius Calhoun; and as you've done my s.h.i.+rt no service by spilling half my liquor upon it, I shall take the liberty of unstarching yours in a similar fas.h.i.+on.”

So saying, the mustanger took up his gla.s.s; and, before the ex-captain of volunteers could duck his head, or get out of the way, the remains of the mixed Monongahela were ”swilled” into his face, sending him off into a fit of alternate sneezing and coughing that appeared to afford satisfaction to more than a majority of the bystanders.

The murmur of approbation was soon suppressed. The circ.u.mstances were not such as to call for speech; and the exclamations that accompanied the act were succeeded by a hush of silence. All saw that the quarrel could not be otherwise than a serious one. The affair must end in a fight. No power on earth could prevent it from coming to that conclusion.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

AN UNSAFE POSITION.

On receiving the alcoholic douche, Calhoun had clutched his six-shooter, and drawn it from its holster. He only waited to get the whisky out of his eyes before advancing upon his adversary.

The mustanger, antic.i.p.ating this action, had armed himself with a similar weapon, and stood ready to return the fire of his antagonist-- shot for shot.

The more timid of the spectators had already commenced making their escape out of doors tumbling over one another, in their haste to get out of harm's way.

A few stayed in the saloon from sheer irresolution; a few others, of cooler courage, from choice; or, perhaps, actuated by a more astute instinct, which told them that in attempting to escape they might get a bullet in the back.

There was an interval--some six seconds--of silence, during which a pin might have been heard falling upon the floor. It was but the interlude that often occurs between resolution and action; when the mind has completed its task, and the body has yet to begin.

It might have been more brief with other actors on the scene. Two ordinary men would have blazed away at once, and without reflection.

But the two now confronting each other were not of the common kind.