Dave Darrin on the Asiatic Station Part 31

"Why," Danny rattled on, "there is some yarn about Katura's medallion having come into your possession. You and Katura had some words in the parlor, and he struck you in the face."

"And I promptly returned the blow in kind," Darrin responded.

"Exactly," nodded Dalzell. "That appears to have been the start that is to lead up to something very pretty. When I came in I found Toruma and Hata awaiting me. They told me that Katura had sent them to see me, or any other friend or friends who you may prefer, to arrange for a meeting at which the memory of the blows exchanged should be wiped out.

In plain words, David, little giant, you are challenged to fight a duel with Lieutenant Katura."

"A duel?" echoed Dave Darrin, aghast. "That's a joke!"

"If it is," retorted Danny Grin, dryly, "then please help me to find out the point at which I am to laugh."

"But I have sworn to uphold the laws of the United States and to obey the regulations of the United States Navy," Dave continued, "and dueling is against the regulations."

"It looks," returned Dan, soberly, "as though you would have to fight, or 'lose face.'"

"And if I engage in a duel," Dave retorted, "I have perjured myself, for I shall have broken the regulations that I am sworn to obey."

"Well, then," Dan inquired, "what _are_ you going to do? Go back aboard the 'Katahdin' and forego all sh.o.r.e leave as long as we are in j.a.panese waters? But, for that matter, would naval officers of any foreign service respect you anywhere in the world? For the officers of most navies still fight duels at need, and the j.a.panese officers would be likely to snub you, in every foreign port, for what they would consider your 'shame.'"

"But on what basis am I expected to fight?" Dave demanded. "Because I answered Katura's blow on the face?"

"I suppose that is the pretended reason," Dalzell answered, gravely.

"Of course every one familiar with dueling will know that some deeper cause exists."

"It must be the inexplicable matter of the medallion that makes Katura so anxious to slit my windpipe with a sword, or drive a bullet through my breast," Dave went on. "I must tell you, Dan, all that I know about this wretched matter of the medallion."

Danny Grin's eyes opened wider and wider as he heard the tale.

"That's the story," nodded Dalzell vigorously, when he had heard it all. "I understand now. Katura can't think that you _stole_ the medallion. That would be altogether contrary to the nature of an officer and a gentleman. But he figures that you took the medallion from him as a joke, and when he realizes that you, in turn, might have lost it, and thinks of the anguish of his mother, who owns the medallion, then Katura's blood is up, and he must fight you. Hence, he gave you the blow in the face, which you returned. Therefore, according to the ideals of the duello, you owe him a meeting on the field of honor."

"That field of honor will have grown into a forest, if he waits until I meet him there," Dave declared firmly.

"Then you simply won't fight a duel."

"I shall not!"

"What grounds shall I give for your refusal?"

"Simply tell Katura's seconds that duelling is against the United States Naval Regulations, which I have sworn to obey and uphold. Tell Mr. Katura's seconds that I decline, on any pretext, to break the regulations knowingly."

"Whew!" whistled Danny Grin. "The j.a.panese smile is historic, and a thing of beauty, but I can see the a.s.sortment of j.a.panese smiles that will greet any such reply on my part. I shall get a regular j.a.panese horse laugh!"

"Then when you meet Toruma and Hata, cut the interview as short as you can," Dave suggested, "and get it over with. But make it as plain as you know how that I simply won't fight a duel."

"Oh, I can make it plain enough, and they will believe me in a minute-no trouble about that," Dan murmured as he rose. "But they will decline to believe in your lofty ideas of right and wrong, and will set it all down to plain American cowardice."

"I am sorry to impose any such errand upon you, Danny boy," sighed Dave. "But I will go with you, and speak for myself."

"Oh, that wouldn't do at all," protested Dan, aghast. "In dueling the princ.i.p.al never goes to meet the other chap's seconds. His own second must do that for him."

"But there isn't going to be any duel," smiled Dave, "and I am not a princ.i.p.al, nor are you my second. You are my friend, and the best in the world, but you will never be my second."

"There's going to be the d.i.c.kens of a mix-up," grunted Dalzell, as, after wringing Darrin's hand, he moved toward the door. "I'll do the best I can, but you must expect, after declining a duel, to be snubbed everywhere in Tokio."

"Then I shall endeavor to set Tokio an example in calmness," smiled Dave again. But the instant that the door had closed on him, and he strolled down the hallway, a thoughtful frown came to his face.

In the meantime Dan Dalzell was hastening below, on a by no means pleasant mission.

Just now Dave did not want to go back to Belle, for fear she might question him. After a turn or two he went back to Dalzell's room.

Half an hour later, growing impatient, Dave decided to go below and to address Toruma and Hata himself.

Down in the lobby Ensign Dave beheld Lieutenants Toruma and Hata, talking with two men who looked like Englishmen.

"Dan must have finished his part," thought Dave. "I'll see if I can draw Toruma aside."

Just as Dave Darrin approached the group Toruma caught sight of him.

Some low-voiced remark ran through the group.

"May I have a word with you, Mr. Toruma, at your convenience?" Dave inquired.

There was no reply. The two j.a.panese and the English pair merely wheeled about abruptly, turning their backs upon him.

CHAPTER XIX-DAN FIRES A WARM SHOT

Flushing slightly, though with no other outward sign, Dave turned upon his heel and left the group.

"I can understand the att.i.tude of the j.a.panese officers, but why should Englishmen turn against me?" Dave wondered. "The average Englishman has no more patience with silly dueling than we Americans have."

It would have done Dave's heart good, just then, had he known how Danny Grin had met and talked to the two j.a.panese seconds.

On hearing that Ensign Darrin would not, under any circ.u.mstances, consent to a duel, Toruma and Hata had smiled as genially as Dan had expected they would do.

"I don't know," pursued Dan, "whether you can understand the feelings that prompt an officer to decline a duel."

"The reason that comes most quickly to mind," replied Toruma, "is the feeling of fear."

"Gentlemen, if you think that my friend, Darrin, is afraid of anything that is honorable, then you are poor judges of human nature," Dan replied, with some warmth.

"But why should a naval man hesitate to accept the appeal to arms?"

inquired Toruma, with another smile.

"Darrin, to my positive knowledge, never did meet any call to arms with anything except calm joy," Dalzell replied warmly. "In this present instance, if one of Mr. Darrin's superior officers gave him an order to meet Mr. Katura on the field of honor, Darrin would be there ahead of time. But Mr. Darrin took the oath of the service, binding him to obey the Navy regulations, and one of those regulations expressly forbids him to fight duels, or to take any part in one."

"What shall we tell Mr. Katura?" pressed Hata darkly.