“May I have a word with you, Mr. Toruma, at your convenience?” Dave inquired.
There was no reply. The two Japanese and the English pair merely wheeled about abruptly, turning their backs upon him.
[CHAPTER XIX—DAN FIRES A WARM SHOT]
Flushing slightly, though with no other outward sign, Dave turned upon his heel and left the group.
“I can understand the attitude of the Japanese officers, but why should Englishmen turn against me?” Dave wondered. “The average Englishman has no more patience with silly dueling than we Americans have.”
It would have done Dave’s heart good, just then, had he known how Danny Grin had met and talked to the two Japanese seconds.
On hearing that Ensign Darrin would not, under any circumstances, consent to a duel, Toruma and Hata had smiled as genially as Dan had expected they would do.
“I don’t know,” pursued Dan, “whether you can understand the feelings that prompt an officer to decline a duel.”
“The reason that comes most quickly to mind,” replied Toruma, “is the feeling of fear.”
“Gentlemen, if you think that my friend, Darrin, is afraid of anything that is honorable, then you are poor judges of human nature,” Dan replied, with some warmth.