"Come, then," said Iberville, "let us find a place.
My sword is at my hand.

Yours ?" "Mine is not far off," answered Gering sullenly.

Iberville forbore to point a moral, but walked to the mantel, above which hung two swords of finest steel, with richly-chased handles.

He had noted them as soon as he had entered the room.

"By the governor's leave," he said, and took them down.