[But Jack is a wily impulsive fighter and a cheating scoundrel besides. What chance is there that he would sit patiently and take instruction from the Admiral on form and posture? And similarly how could Norrington stoop to tainting his practiced grace with the pirate's shameful floundering? Better that they fight as they have always done.]

Upon the ground we shall lay a length of silk. We shall begin each twenty paces from the other and set the prize in the middle. At a pre-determined signal we shall both seek to grasp and hold it. By any means. The victor will be the man who holds the silk the longer.

Have you any objections?