The cheer rang out louder than before.

The Frenchman could no longer conceal his mortification; and, grasping his foil in both hands, he snapped it over his knee, with an oath.

Then, muttering some word about "better weapons" and "another opportunity", he strode off among the spectators.

Two hours after the combat I was his captain.

Clayley was elected first lieutenant, and in a week from that time the company was "mustered" into the service of the United States government, and armed and equipped as an independent corps of "Rifle Rangers".