"You certainly do not expect any one to believe those wretched big stories you tell?" "Certainly I do," replied the captain with dignity. "But they contradict themselves." "Perhaps you don't believe there ever was such an event as the battle of Magenta." "Come, come, my friend; just slide off that high horse." "Lieutenant Somers, my word has been doubted; my good faith maligned; my character for truth and veracity questioned." "Yes, I know all that very well; but answer me one question, captain. Seriously and solemnly, were you at the battle of Magenta?" "I decline to answer one who doubts my veracity. If I answered you in the affirmative, you would not believe me." "I don't think I should; but, if you should answer me in the negative, I should have full faith in your reply." "I cannot answer on those terms. Somers, I am offended. I don't know but that I am in duty bound to challenge you. Just after the battle of Magenta, I felt compelled to challenge a young officer who cast an imputation upon my word. We fought, and he fell. His brother challenged me then, and I had to put a bullet through his head. The family were Corsicans, I believe; and one after another challenged me, till they got down to fifth cousins; and I laid out fifteen of them--I think it was fifteen; I don't remember the exact number, but I could tell by referring to my diary. You are so precise and particular, that I want to give you the facts just as they are." "You haven't the diary with you, I suppose?" "Of course not; I couldn't carry a volume like that around with me. I only mention this circumstance to show you the sad results which sometimes follow in the wake of a duel." "But I'm not a Corsican; and I don't think you need fear any such results in my case, if you should conclude to challenge me," answered Somers with abundant good nature. "Now, seriously and solemnly, Somers, this doubting a comrade's word is a vicious habit. It shows that you have no confidence in what I say." "That is precisely the truth; but I think you are responsible for the fact, not I. If you would only tell the truth----" "Tell the truth! My dear fellow, you keep making the matter worse, instead of better." "So do you; for, instead of abandoning your bad habit, you tell me an absurd story about killing fifteen men in a series of duels!" "I told you I couldn't fix the exact number. You are too critical by half." "I am not particular about the number; for I don't believe you killed even a single person in a duel. You are too good a fellow to do anything of the sort." "Somers, I have been laboring to keep my temper; but I am afraid you will make me mad, if you keep on. I think we had better suspend this conversation before it leads to any unhappy results;" and the captain rose from the ground, and glanced in the direction of the enemy's pickets.