reader, who should not look upon him inconsistently.

The critical reader may perhaps question the propriety of Carlton's
wounding Petro at all, inasmuch as he is represented to be able to
have defended himself with comparative ease from the heated and
headstrong Italian's sword. In answer to this, we would say, that
besides there being always the possibility of his being wounded by
the enemy's sword, the very fact of his returning to the fight when
severely wounded, showed that Carlton had rightly judged of his
character, its vindictive impulses, when he deemed both wounds
necessary. He gave the second one unwillingly; and not one moment
before he thought it absolutely necessary to do so; all those on the
ground could have borne testimony that there was scarcely an instant
of time that Carlton had not Petro's life at his command, if he had
chosen to take it.

"Why, Carlton," said a merry-faced Englishman, who had been his
companion during the interview, and who was now walking with him
down the mountain's side, "I could hardly believe my eyes to see
thee such a master of thy weapon. How hast thou possibly attained to
such extraordinary proficiency with the sword?"

"You remember the little Frenchman, who lived so long with me?"
asked Carlton. "He who had his snuff-box ever in his hand?"

"That I do," said his companion; "and a merry, studious, jocund,
lazy, cowardly and brave little fellow he was. In short, I believe
there was no quality, however contradictory-good, bad, or
indifferent-that he did not possess."