"Perfectly," said I, who indeed knew little about the matter.

Orme stepped over to the coops where the birds were kept--splendid,
iridescent creatures, with long tails, clean, gamy heads and all the
colors of the rainbow on their breasts. "By Jove!" he said, "they're
rippers for looks, and they should fly a bit, I'm thinking. I have never
seen them before, much less shot a race at them."

"Still your advantage," said I, laughing, "for I never shot a race at
any sort in my life."

"And yet you match against me? My dear fellow, I hardly like--"

"The match is made, Captain Orme, and I am sure Mr. Cowles would not ask
for any readjustment," commented Stevenson stiffly.

"Don't understand me to wish to urge anything," said Orme. "I only wish
it so we shall all have a chance at revenge. Is there any one who wishes
to back me, perhaps, or to back Mr. Cowles? Sometimes in England we
shoot at a guinea a bird or five, or ten." Stevenson shook his head.
"Too gaited for me at this time of the month," he said; "but I'll lay
you a hundred dollars on the issue."

"Five if you like, on the Virginian, sir," said young Belknap of the
Ninth to Orme.

"Done, and done, gentlemen. Let it be dollars and not guineas if you
like. Would any one else like to lay a little something? You see, I'm a
stranger here, but I wish to do what will make it interesting for any of