“If you fight a duel in that way, I am ready to take part in it,” said he, his face red with anger. “Let go of me!”
“With pleasure, my dear boy,” replied De Banyan, edging away from him.
“What do you mean by pitching into me in that way?” demanded Somers angrily.
“I have been trying this half hour to teach you a useful lesson; but you don’t know who your best friends are.”
“I think I do. Some of them tell the truth sometimes.”
“Somers!” said the captain sternly.
“Captain de Banyan!” replied the lieutenant firmly.
“Do you see that hole in the tree?” continued Captain de Banyan, pointing to a fresh bullet-mark.
“I do.”
“I only pulled you down to keep that rifle-ball from going through your head. I saw a rebel picket through the trees, ready to fire at us. The ball struck the tree before we struck the ground.”