"Now that you are through, Stanton, I have something to say concerning
this affair," he began, in words that were as clean-cut and hard
as steel. "If you propose to give this fellow a dog's whipping
to-morrow, I will go with you and witness the well-deserved
chastisement. But if you are intending a conventional duel, I'll
have nothing to do with it, for two reasons. The first reason this
fellow will not understand. Dueling is against my principles, and
he knows nothing of principle. But even if I accepted the old and
barbarous code, I should insist that a friend of mine should fight
with a gentleman, and not a low blackguard."
"You use that epithet again at your peril," hissed Sibley, advancing
a step towards him.
Van Berg made a gesture of contempt toward the speaker as he turned
and said:
"You understand me, Stanton; it is not from any lack of loyalty
toward you as my friend; but I would not be worthy of your friendship
were I false to my sense of duty and honor."
"You are both white-livered cowards," roared Sibley. "One sneaks
off under cover of the day--I never saw a fellow taken with a
pious fit so suddenly before. The other, in order to keep his skin
whole, prates of his dread lest his principles be punctured.
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