It was war, and I did nothing but my plain duty; and even in a time of peace I had the natural right to defend myself, and save my own life, even at the sacrifice of yours, as you were the assailant," argued Christy quite warmly.

"You would have put a ball through my head or heart if I had not fired at the moment I did." "Why didn't you shoot me like a gentleman, and not blow my nose off ?" demanded the captain bitterly.
"I had to fire in a hurry; and I did not aim at your nose.

I could only discharge my weapon on the instant, and I had no time to aim at any particular part of you.

I intended simply to cover your head." "But you blowed my nose off all the same." "I had no grudge against your nose.

Do you think it would be honorable for a soldier to revenge himself on neutral ground for a wound received in the field ?" "But it was a sneaking Yankee trick to shoot at a man's nose, even in a square battle by sea or by land," protested the captain with a rattling oath.
It was useless to discuss the matter with such a man, though he had probably been charged by Colonel Pierson not to do his prisoner any injury, and Christy relapsed into silence.
"If you propose to treat me like a gentleman, whether I am one or not, may I ask where you propose to berth me, for I am very much fatigued to-night ?" asked the prisoner later in the evening.
"I mean to give you as good a stateroom as I have myself; but it will contain two berths, and the mate will occupy the lower one, to prevent you from escaping, if you should take it into your head to do so," replied the captain, as he opened the door of one of the rooms.
"I can hardly get into the upper berth with my wrists ironed," said the prisoner, exhibiting his fetters.
"That is so," replied the captain, taking the key of the manacles from his pocket and removing them.