I am pining for work and the job will just suit me! I will fit him for the worms before the nuns above can say an AVE!" I looked at the newcomer.

He was a stout fellow; not over tall, nor over big; swarthy, with prominent features.

The plume of his bonnet was broken, but he wore it in a rakish fashion; and altogether he swaggered with so dare-devil an air, clinking his spurs and swinging out his long sword recklessly, that it was no wonder three or four of the nearest fellows gave back a foot.
"Come on!" he cried, boisterously, forming a ring by the simple process of sweeping his blade from side to side, while he made the dagger in his left hand flash round his head.

"Who is for the game?
Who will strike a blow for the little Admiral?
Will you come one, two, three at once; or all together?
Anyway, come on, you--" And he closed his challenge with a volley of frightful oaths, directed at the group opposite.
"It is no quarrel of yours," said the big man, sulkily; making no show of drawing his sword, but rather drawing back himself.
"All quarrels are my quarrels! and no quarrels are your quarrels.

That is about the truth, I fancy!" was the smart retort; which our champion rendered more emphatic by a playful lunge that caused the big bully to skip again.
There was a loud laugh at this, even among the enemy's backers.