“Proposition.”
“What is it?”
“It’s usual on shipboard, when one party gets a grouch on against another, to meet according to rules and fight it out.”
“Well, what of it?”
“How’d you like to fight, matey?”
“No, thank you,” Dan replied, with considerable emphasis, the memory of his previous trouble still being fresh in mind. “Whom do you want me to fight?”
“We haven’t said we wanted you to fight anybody. We ain’t very strong on having you fight somebody. Somebody wants to fight you, and we’ve been appointed a committee to come over and consult with you.”
“Some one wishes to fight me, is that it?” questioned Dan.
“That’s about it, shipmate.”
Dan gazed at them inquiringly.