But their minds were too much occupied with war to think of the bird of peace.

Then all at once Mark rested his point upon the toe of his high boot.
"Look here," he said; "if I stop to say something now, will you promise me that you will not think it an excuse to keep from fighting ?" "Let me hear what it is," said Ralph coldly; and Mark flushed and raised his point again.
"No!" he cried.

"Yes: I will say it, and you may think I'm a coward if you like.

I don't care." "What is it ?" said Ralph, making a dimple on the toe of his boot with his sword point.
"Well, it's this," said Mark; "and mind, I'm speaking to you as an enemy." "Of course," said Ralph.
"Old Master Rayburn said to me, that as my father did not put a stop to the doings of this Captain Purlrose, I ought to do it." "That's exactly what he said to me." Mark hesitated for a moment or two, and then, as if speaking with an effort, he blurted out: "And thought I ought to join you, each getting together some men, and going and taking the ruffians by surprise." "Yes; and he said all that to me." "Oh! Well, it's quite impossible for us to fight together as friends, isn't it ?" "Quite," cried Ralph.
"We did once, though," suggested Mark.
"Yes, so we did.

Well, couldn't we again if we tried ?" "I don't know," said Mark thoughtfully.