The three persons were now quite near, and by the dim light the boys could recognize the short figure of Major Fitts. Aziz Achmet had the major by the arm and seemed talking to him earnestly in low tones. The third man carried a small hand case, and seemed like a surgeon. Fitts and the surgeon stopped a short distance away, while Achmet advanced swiftly, with his usual soft step. “I see you are here, gentlemen,” he said. “We are,” returned Dick; “but we began to think you were not coming. Professor Gunn is anxious to have this affair over in order that he may take a bath before breakfast.” “A bath!” said the Turk. “Before breakfast?” “Yes; he always has his morning shower or sponge.” “But he may not need one this morning.” “I reckon he will,” muttered Buckhart, to himself. “If Fitts’ aim is any good, the professor sure will need one a heap.” “Major Fitts,” said Achmet, “is inclined to be magnanimous.” “Indeed?” said Dick questioningly. “Yes; he wishes me to say that he has no real desire to slay one of his own countrymen.” “Kind of him!” “And, therefore, if Professor Gunn will apologize, he will overlook the insult and spare him.” “I—I think I had better do it, Richard!” whispered Zenas. “Mr. Achmet,” said Dick stiffly, “you will kindly inform Major Fitts that he has quite misunderstood the situation. Tell him that unless he immediately apologizes in the most humble manner Professor Gunn insists that the affair be carried through to the bitter end.” “To the bitter end!” put in Buckhart. “That’s the stuff!” The Turk bowed. “Then there is nothing else to be done but to arrange the preliminaries. I will speak to the major a moment.” As soon as Achmet’s back was turned the professor seized Dick and almost sobbed in his ear: “Richard, Richard, why did you do it? My blood will be on your head!” “Hush!” returned Dick. “Don’t you see the major is frightened worse than you are? Achmet has dragged him here, and he’s ready to take to his heels and run for his life.” “Wh-what?” gasped Zenas, straightening up as if electrified. “Are you sure?” “No question about it. Achmet is having a difficult time to hold him now.” It was a fact that Mowbry Fitts was very much disturbed. He protested that there might be a mutual understanding through which the affair could be dropped. All the way to the cemetery he had hoped that the professor would not be there and would fail to appear. He now declared that Achmet was responsible for the whole wretched affair. “It is a shame that two highly intelligent men, two eminently respectable citizens of a great and glorious country, should meet here, suh, in this wretched old cemetery, suh, and slaughter each other in cold blood,” he said. Achmet shrugged his shoulders. “I am quite surprised in you,” he declared. “I thought you a brave man. The other American is waiting and anxious. If you show the white feather now, you will be branded the rest of your life as a coward.”