“Stood by you?” exclaimed Major Riggleston, his face flushed with anger. “Do you intend to insinuate that I did not stand by you?”
“You did, but at a safe distance.”
“Didn’t I do all the talking with the villains?” foamed the major.
“Certainly you did,” replied the regular.
“Didn’t I bear the whole brunt of the assault at the beginning?”
“Undoubtedly you did,” responded Captain Barkwood, before Somers could speak a word.
“Didn’t I fight like a tiger, till—”
“Unquestionably you did.”
“Till my rein got entangled in my spur, and whirled my horse round?”
“My dear major, you behaved like a lion,” said Barkwood, in tones so soothing that the anger of Riggleston passed away like the shadow of a summer cloud.