"I will tell you, sir, what Miss Horton meant," said Cora, advancing to the captain; "she would have told you that I am Gerald Leslie's daughter." "In that case, madam," replied the captain, "you must be aware--" "That my place is with the slaves at the other end of the steamer. Pardon me, sir, for having forgotten my real position!" With one proudly disdainful glance at Augustus Horton, Cora slowly retired. The passengers watched her in silence, wondering how the strange scene would end. Gilbert Margrave advanced to Augustus Horton, and addressed him in a tone of quiet determination, far more impressive than the loudest passion. "Mr. Horton," he said; "the insult inflicted upon Miss Leslie was offered also to me, since I was by her side at the time. Whether her cause be just or unjust, I insist--you understand, sir, I insist upon an immediate reparation for an act which I consider an abominable cowardice." "As you please, sir," replied the planter. "I shall land at Iberville." "Enough. I also will land there." "Why not throw the Englishman overboard?" said Craig, in an undertone to some of the passengers. Augustus Horton overheard the words, and turned fiercely upon the lawyer. "I allow no interference in this," he said; "the quarrel is mine alone. Percy, you will be my second?" "Pardon me," replied Mortimer Percy, "as Mr. Margrave is a stranger in Louisiana, he may have difficulty in finding any one to assist him in this matter. You will excuse me, therefore, if I give him the preference." "As you please," answered Augustus, indifferently. Gilbert grasped the hand of his old friend: "Thanks, Mortimer," he whispered, "your heart is generous as ever." "Perhaps you won't mind having me for a second, Mr. Horton," said William Bowen; "I'm rather an old hand in that sort of affairs." Augustus glanced at him with one brief look of contempt, but replied, after a pause, "Be it so, Mr. Bowen; I accept your services. This evening, then, Mr. Margrave. We meet at sunset, in the wood on the borders of Mr. Craig's plantation at Iberville." "We shall be punctual," answered Gilbert. CHAPTER XVI. CAPTAIN PRENDERGILLS, OF THE AMAZON. While the Selma steamed proudly past the banks of the Mississippi, the inhabitants of New Orleans were occupied by the discussion of an event which had taken place on the previous night, but which had only been discovered early that morning. Paul Lisimon had escaped from prison. When Silas Craig and Augustus Horton took their places on board the Selma, they little dreamed that their victim had escaped them.