7
	And what came of it.
saying he wasn�t afraid of his Vigilance Commit-
tee and a good deal more.     I thought the South-
erner showed best in the quarrel, though he did
talk, once, about knocking brains out.   Aroused
from my doze, and only imperfectly overhearing
the dispute, I tried to put an end to it, with
the usual success in such cases.   Colt packed up
the few arms that remained, talking all the
time to Woodward, who sat at his desk, replying
by monosyllables, and we came away.  Colt
was very wearisome with his objurgations subsequent-
ly, and his protestations of defying all that could
be attempted against him; being indeed in such
a highly-nervous state, that on my proposing a drink
to calm him, he set down the glass untasted and
went out into the passage adjacent, where I found
him, almost crying.        I cheered him up, promised
to see him through and so the affair ended,
though it had a sort of sequel, to which I shall
shortly arrive.         Non mi recordo as to Wed-
nesday morning.  xAfter dining, I was in my room,
writing my second long letter to the �Post� when a
knocking at my door warned me to slip it under
my blotting-paper and accord admission.    Enter
Colt, agitated, with a blood-stain across his
face, with him a sturdy, rough-looking man
  x What followed occurred on New Years� Day.