"Attempted to kill his second!" said Seddon.
"The assassin! the ruffian! the poltroon! I'll post him!" said Bragg.
"He jumped up and aimed a blow at my head with a chair," said Wiggins.
"An assault and battery," said Tom. "Liable in a suit for damages."
"He afterwards became calm, apologized for the outrage, and agreed to meet Captain Bragg at the hour named. But when I called for him this morning he had disappeared."
"Disappeared!" said Toney.
"Yes, sir,—absconded,—fled to parts unknown."
"I will publish him," said Bragg. "I will prepare placards with the words BOTTS and COWARD in letters as big as my hand! Come, Mr. Belton; come, gentlemen."
"Put out the fires, Cæsar. Take care of the pots, Hannibal," said Seddon. And with these instructions to those two distinguished personages, Tom shouldered the tin tubes and followed after Bragg, who, with Belton and Wiggins, was proceeding with rapid strides towards the town.