CHAPTER XXIV.
THE DUEL Cleggett took Wilton Barnstable by the sleeve and drew him towards Loge, who, still seated on the deck with his long legs stretched out in front of him, was now yawning with a cynical affectation of boredom.
"I wish you to act as my second in this affair," said Cleggett to the detective, "and I suggest that either Mr.Ward or Mr.Bard perform a like office for Mr.Black." Loge shrugged his shoulders, and said with a sneer: "A second, eh?
We seem to be doing a great deal of arranging for a very small amount of fighting." "I suggest," said Wilton Barnstable, "that a night's rest would be quite in order for both principals." Loge broke in quickly, with studied insolence: "I object to the delay.
Mr.Cleggett might find some excuse for changing his mind overnight.
Let us, if you please, begin at once." "It was not I who suggested the delay," said Cleggett, haughtily.
"Then give us the pistols," cried Loge, with a sudden, grim ferocity in his voice, "and let's make an end of it!" "We fight with swords," said Cleggett.

"I am the challenged party." "Ho! Swords!" cried Loge, with a harsh, jarring laugh.

"A bout with the rapiers, man to man, eh?
Come, this is better and better! I may go to the chair, but first I will spit you like a squab on a skewer, my little nut!" And then he said again, with a shout of gusty mirth, and a clanking of his manacles: "Swords, eh?
By God! The little man says SWORDS!" Wilton Barnstable drew Cleggett to one side.
"Name pistols," he said.

"For God's sake, Cleggett, name pistols! If I had had any idea that you were going to demand rapiers I should have warned you before." Cleggett was amused at the great detective's anxiety.

"It appears that the fellow handles the rapier pretty well, eh ?" he said easily.
"Cleggett----" began Barnstable.