Finding neither willing to
make an offer for reconciliation, he called all hands up, (for the
captain was ashore, and he could do as he chose aboard,) ranged the
crew in the waist, marked a line on the deck, brought the two boys
up to it, making them "toe the mark;" then made the bight of a rope
fast to a belaying pin, and stretched it across the deck, bringing
it just above their waists. "No striking below the rope!" And there
they stood, one on each side of it, face to face, and went at it
like two game-cocks. The Cape Cod boy, Nat, put in his double-fisters,
starting the blood, and bringing the black and blue spots all over the
face and arms of the other, whom we expected to see give in every
moment: but the more he was hurt, the better he fought. Time after
time he was knocked nearly down, but up he came again and faced the
mark, as bold as a lion, again to take the heavy blows, which
sounded so as to make one's heart turn with pity for him. At length he
came up to the mark for the last time, his shirt torn from his body,
his face covered with blood and bruises, and his eyes flashing fire,
and swore he would stand there until one or the other was killed,
and set-to like a young fury.
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