"Nod py a plamed sight! I don"d vant a pog-drotter to done some uf dot peesness for me, ain"d id? Uf I shoose mein second, I dakes Vrankie Merrivell alretty!"
For all that he had serious work on hand, Frank was ready for a frolic, and he instantly said:
"I will carry your challenge, Hans. You may depend on me."
"All righd, Vrankie, my poy; led her go."
"You wish me to hunt up Ephraim Gallup, and demand an apology or a fight?"
"Yaw."
"And you really mean it?"
"Yaw."
"Will you fight if he agrees to meet you?"
"Yaw."
"All right. There can"t be any backing out now, understand that. You are in for a fight, if Gallup doesn"t apologize."
"Yaw; but you mighd influence him to abologize uf you couldt, ain"d id?"
"It would not be proper to bring any undue influence to bear on him. I shall carry your challenge to him immediately."
As Frank started to find Ephraim Gallup, Barney Mulloy slipped from the crowd and joined him. The Irish lad"s eyes were full of mischief.
"I say, Frankie, me b"y," he said, quickly, "can"t we put up a job on thot Dutchman, an" hiv som" fun av this, Oi dunno?"
"Leave that to me," smiled Frank. "I fancy I will find a way to get plenty of sport out of this business. You know those two old horse-pistols that are hung up for relics in the armory?"
"Yis."
"Go for them yourself, or send somebody who can get them immediately."
"Pwhat do yez want wid thim?"
"I will show you, if I can make my scheme work."
"Oi belave Oi know," chuckled the fun-loving Irish lad. "Mursha!
Won"t thot be fun, Oi dunno! Oi"ll hiv thim roight away," and off he darted.
As Frank expected, he found Ephraim once more surrounded by a mob who were having sport at his expense. Fortunately for Merriwell"s scheme, the country boy was rather angry, and felt more like fighting than doing anything else.
"Mr. Gallup," said Frank, as he forced his way through the throng and confronted the Vermonter, "I am here in behalf of a friend whom you have sorely insulted."
"Git aout with yer nonsense!" retorted Ephraim. "I wish you"d quit yer foolin" an" let a feller alone."
"You will discover this is not fooling, sir," said Frank, sternly. "My friend demands that you fight him immediately. Will you do it?"
"Wal, I be twisted if I don"t!" snorted Ephraim, as he spat on his hands and prepared to remove his coat. "Where is ther consarned critter? I"ll bark his nose quicker"n a brindle caow kin kick over a pail of milk, by gum!"
CHAPTER XLIII.
DOUGHTY DUELIST.
Ephraim was in earnest.
"Hold on," said Frank, quickly, "what are you going to do?"
"Fight, by gum!"
"But you can"t fight here."
"Why not?"
"You would be arrested and placed in the guard tent."
"Wal, ef a feller can"t fight, whut ye makin" all this taowse abaout?"
"You can fight, but not within the limits of the camp. The duel must take place outside."
"Who is this consarned critter that says I"ve insulted him?"
"Mr. Dunnerwust."
"Wal, ef he wants to fight me, he"ll find he never dun er wust thing."
Frank staggered and clutched at his heart.
"Don"t!" he gasped. "I"m not particularly weak, but I"m not strong enough to stand many of those."
Ephraim grinned all over his long face.
"Oh, them things come natteral like with me," he said. "I kin reel "em off by ther yard when I git started. Folks up aour away say I"m ther funniest critter that ever growed in them parts."
"Well, you have agreed to meet Mr. Dunnerwust?"
"Yep."
"The meeting must take place without delay, so there may be daylight enough for its consummation."
"Is that anything good to eat?"
"What?"