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Attack and Riposte
Theotherfollowedhimonthequay;andthetwopresentlyfoundthemselvesaloneattheentranceofanopenwharfonJones’Fall.
Thetwoenemies,stillmutuallyunknown,gazedateachother.
"Whoareyou?"askedBarbicane.
"CaptainNicholl!"
"SoIsuspected.Hithertochancehasneverthrownyouinmyway."
"Iamcomeforthatpurpose."
"Youhaveinsultedme."
"Publicly!"
"Andyouwillanswertomeforthisinsult?"
"Atthisverymoment."
"No!Idesirethatallthatpassesbetweenusshallbesecret.TheirisawoodsituatedthreemilesfromTampa,thewoodofSkersnaw.Doyouknowit?"
"Iknowit."
"Willyoubesogoodastoenteritto-morrowmorningatfiveo’clock,ononeside?"
"Yes!ifyouwillenterattheothersideatthesamehour."
"Andyouwillnotforgetyourrifle?"saidBarbicane.
"Nomorethanyouwillforgetyours?"repliedNicholl.
Thesewordshavingbeencoldlyspoken,thepresidentoftheGunClubandthecaptainparted.Barbicanereturnedtohislodging;butinsteadofsnatchingafewhoursofrepose,hepassedthenightinendeavoringtodiscoverameansofevadingtherecoiloftheprojectile,andresolvingthedifficultproblemproposedbyMichelArdanduringthediscussionatthemeeting.
