The two sailors, sitting on the log, looked at each other and chuckled.  It was evident to Robert that they had supreme confidence in the captain and expected to see Peter Smith receive a lesson that would put him permanently in his place.  The mutual look and the mutual chuckle aroused some anger in Robert, but did not impair his certainty of victory.  Nevertheless he neglected no precaution.

The captain advanced, holding the heavy cutlass with ease and lightness.  He was a tall and very strong man, and Robert noted the look of cruelty in the close-set eyes.  He knew what he must expect in case of defeat, and again telling himself to be careful he recalled all the cunning that Willet had taught him.

“Are you ready?” he asked quietly.

“Aye, Peter, and your bad quarter of an hour is upon you.”

Again the two sailors on the log looked at each other and chuckled.

“I don’t think so, captain,” said Robert.  “Perhaps the bad quarter of an hour is yours.”

He stared straight into the close-set cruel eyes so fixedly and so long that the captain lowered his gaze, proving that the superior strength of will lay with his younger opponent.  Then he shook himself angrily, his temper stirred, because his eyes had given way.

“Begin!” said Robert.

The captain slashed with the heavy cutlass, and Robert easily turned aside the blow with his lighter weapon.  He saw then that the captain was no swordsman in the true sense, and he believed he had nothing to fear.  He waited until the man attacked again, and again he deftly turned aside the blow.

The two sailors sitting on the log looked at each other once more, but they did not chuckle.

Robert, still watching the close-set cruel eyes, saw a look of doubt appear there.

“My bad quarter of an hour seems to be delayed, captain,” he said with irony.

The man, stung beyond endurance, attacked with fury, the heavy cutlass singing and whistling as he slashed and thrust.  Robert contented himself with the defense, giving ground slowly and moving about in a circle.  The captain’s eye at first glittered with a triumphant light as he saw his foe retreat, and the two sailors sitting on the log and exchanging looks found cause to chuckle once more.

But the light sank as they completed the circle, leaving Robert untouched, and breathing as easily as ever, while the captain was panting.  Now he decided that his own time had come and knowing that the combat was mental as well as physical he taunted his opponent.

“In truth, captain,” he said, “my bad quarter of an hour did not arrive, but yours, I think, is coming.  Look!  Look!  See the red spot on your waistcoat!”

Despite himself the captain looked down.  The sword flickered in like lightning, and then flashed away again, but when it was gone the red spot on the waistcoat was there.  His flesh stung with a slight wound, but the wound to his spirit was deeper.  He rushed in and slashed recklessly.