“But why should a naval man hesitate to accept the appeal to arms?” inquired Toruma, with another smile.
“Darrin, to my positive knowledge, never did meet any call to arms with anything except calm joy,” Dalzell replied warmly. “In this present instance, if one of Mr. Darrin’s superior officers gave him an order to meet Mr. Katura on the field of honor, Darrin would be there ahead of time. But Mr. Darrin took the oath of the service, binding him to obey the Navy regulations, and one of those regulations expressly forbids him to fight duels, or to take any part in one.”
“What shall we tell Mr. Katura?” pressed Hata darkly.
“Tell him anything you please,” offered Danny Grin obligingly.
“But he will feel at once, as we do, that Mr. Darrin declines the meeting because Mr. Darrin has not the valor to meet a resolute man on the field of honor.”
Danny Grin looked thoughtful for a minute. Then he glanced up to ask:
“How much actual military service, under fire, have you seen, Mr. Toruma?”
“It has not, as yet, been my good fortune to see any,” replied Lieutenant Toruma.
“And you, Mr. Hata, may I inquire what is the extent of your service?”
“I have been as unfortunate in that respect as my friend, Toruma,” replied Hata.