“That field of honor will have grown into a forest, if he waits until I meet him there,” Dave declared firmly.
“Then you simply won’t fight a duel.”
“I shall not!”
“What grounds shall I give for your refusal?”
“Simply tell Katura’s seconds that duelling is against the United States Naval Regulations, which I have sworn to obey and uphold. Tell Mr. Katura’s seconds that I decline, on any pretext, to break the regulations knowingly.”
“Whew!” whistled Danny Grin. “The Japanese smile is historic, and a thing of beauty, but I can see the assortment of Japanese smiles that will greet any such reply on my part. I shall get a regular Japanese horse laugh!”
“Then when you meet Toruma and Hata, cut the interview as short as you can,” Dave suggested, “and get it over with. But make it as plain as you know how that I simply won’t fight a duel.”
“Oh, I can make it plain enough, and they will believe me in a minute—no trouble about that,” Dan murmured as he rose. “But they will decline to believe in your lofty ideas of right and wrong, and will set it all down to plain American cowardice.”
“I am sorry to impose any such errand upon you, Danny boy,” sighed Dave. “But I will go with you, and speak for myself.”
“Oh, that wouldn’t do at all,” protested Dan, aghast. “In dueling the principal never goes to meet the other chap’s seconds. His own second must do that for him.”