“Of course. We don’t want to be seen.”
They walked off side by side till they reached a patch of grass, fairly level and free from stones, where they flung their caps on the ground, and drew their swords; a dove high up in view of the cliff breaking out, as if ironically, with a soft, gentle coo. 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.”