The Boy Allies on the Firing Line Part 8

"How did you sleep?" demanded Chester, as Hal was dressing.

"Fine. Never slept better in my life."

Lieutenant Anderson approached and laid his finger on Hal's pulse.

"You'll do," he said quietly.

"I haven't any nerves, if that is what you mean," said Hal with a smile.

Lieutenant Anderson smiled back at him.

"I believe it," he replied. "But come, we had better be on our way."

Quietly the three left the tent. There was a penetrating chill in the early morning air. It was light now, but the sun had not yet appeared above the horizon. Dense clouds obscured the sky.

"Not a very cheerful morning to die," commented Hal lightly, as they made their way quietly along.

"You are not afraid, are you?" asked Chester anxiously.

"What, after yesterday? Not a little bit."

"I don't believe you know what fear is," declared Lieutenant Anderson.

Lieutenant Dupree, his two friends and a surgeon were already on the ground when Hal, Chester and Lieutenant Anderson arrived. All raised their caps as they came together. The seconds drew apart to discuss the details of the duel, Hal and Lieutenant Dupree in the meantime discarding their coats and rolling up their sleeves.

The details completed, Hal and the French lieutenant were at last face to face.

"On guard!" came the command, given by Lieutenant Anderson.

The swords flashed aloft.

A moment later and they were at it. For a few moments both combatants were wary, each feeling the other out. A few pa.s.ses and Hal realized that he was no match for the more experienced Frenchman.

"I must be very careful," he told himself. "Perhaps I can wear him down a bit, and slip over a light thrust. I certainly don't want to kill him. And I don't want to be killed myself."

The French lieutenant was pressing him sorely now. His sword darted in and out with dazzling rapidity, and Hal thanked his stars that he had been fortunate enough to have had some schooling in the use of the foil.

Hal contented himself with remaining on the defensive, and not an attempt did he make to touch the Frenchman, although the latter left several openings, only, Hal knew, to draw him on. The lieutenant at last began to grow impatient, and with impatience came carelessness.

He had realized, as had Hal, with the first few pa.s.ses, that the lad was not an accomplished swordsman. And the fact now that he could not penetrate the other's guard angered him.

Suddenly he aimed a fierce thrust at Hal, and the latter only escaped being impaled on the other's sword by a quick leap aside. Before the Frenchman could recover his balance, Hal stepped nimbly forward again, his sword darted out, and the lieutenant dropped his weapon with a muttered imprecation. Hal's point had pierced his arm just below the shoulder.

The Frenchman's seconds immediately leaped forward, and Hal stepped over to Chester and Lieutenant Anderson.

"I guess that ends it," he said. "I suppose his honor is appeased now."

"Don't be too sure," replied Lieutenant Anderson. "He is likely to be more furious than ever, and demand that the fight continue until one of you fall. He must realize that you are no match for him, and he counts on that to give him victory. However, I must say that you have handled yourself well, and, if you keep your head, you may succeed in dropping him."

The lieutenant's predictions proved correct. Lieutenant Dupree had had his wound bandaged, and now demanded that the fight be resumed. Hal was not the lad to protest, so the two were soon at swords' points again.

But now both Hal and Lieutenant Dupree fought more warily. Hal could read in his opponent's eyes that he had made up his mind to kill him.

Touched once because of his carelessness, Hal knew that the Frenchman would be more wary.

In stepping back before a fierce thrust of his opponent's sword, Hal's foot slipped. He threw up his arm, and for a moment was off his guard.

Before he could recover his balance, the Frenchman's sword flashed up under his guard and pierced him through the left shoulder.

The lad staggered back, and the Frenchman, unheeding the accident and the calls of Lieutenant Anderson and Chester, pressed his advantage.

With a grim smile he started a thrust that would have ended Hal's days; but, with a sudden lurch, Hal staggered forward, threw up his sword, and, with a terrific stroke, swept the sword from the Frenchman's hand. Lieutenant Dupree was at his mercy.

The Frenchman stepped back and folded his arms, as Hal took a step forward.

"Kill me," he said quietly.

"Run him through!" shouted Lieutenant Anderson. "He tried to kill you unfairly."

Slowly Hal lowered his sword.

"No," he said, "I can't do it. Neither will I continue the fight." He turned to his late opponent. "I hope your honor is satisfied," he said.

The Frenchman turned, and, with bowed head, replaced his coat; then with his two friends he walked away.

The surgeon hurried to Hal's side and peered at his wound.

"Not serious," he said, after an examination. "I'll have it fixed all right in a moment."

The wound dressed, the surgeon offered Hal his hand.

"You are a gallant youngster," he said, "and I am proud to know you.

Many a man in your place would have killed his opponent. Your coolness is a thing to be admired."

Hal shook hands with the surgeon, and the latter then took himself off.

Lieutenant Anderson approached Hal and grasped him by both arms.

"You are all right," he said, emphasizing each word. "I was afraid it was all up with you."

"And so was I," said Chester. "But, if you had fallen unfairly, I would have killed him myself."

The three made their way back to the boys' quarters, where they sat down and talked the duel over.

"The best thing you can do now," said Lieutenant Anderson to Hal finally, "is to get a little rest. Both of you are wounded, and will not have to report for duty. I shall tell General French that you will be all right in a day or two."

"Tell him we shall be all right in an hour or two, that will be much better," said Hal.

"Great Scott!" exclaimed the lieutenant. "Can't you even keep still for a day?"

"Well," said Hal, "there is likely to be some real fighting to-day, and we don't want to miss anything, do we Chester?"