The Gold Hunters' Adventures Part 37

"Then I will gratify his lighting propensities, as I do not feel disposed to retract words which, under the circ.u.mstances, he should have considered as harmless. Jack, my boy," Fred said, turning to me, "will you settle with this gentleman when the affair shall come off, and act by me the part of a friend?"

I knew the nature of the man too well to try and dissuade him from the duel--the most that I could do was to stand by him and endeavor to turn every thing to his advantage. I gave him the promise he required, when turning to Smith, who had sat at the table a patient listener, during the whole conversation, Fred said--

"Come, Smith, you and I will visit the scene of the fire, and leave them together."

"Now to business," the lieutenant said. "You are the challenged party, and have the right to choose weapons. I have a beautiful pair of pistols at the barracks, which I wish you would make choice of. You will fall in love with them at the first sight."

"Very probable," I replied, coolly; "but if pistols are to settle the quarrel, have a pair of Colt's revolvers which I know will command your admiration. Here are the two instruments," and, as I spoke, I laid them on the table.

"A murderous looking weapon, and not suited for the use of gentlemen at ten paces," Merriam said, handling the revolvers with great respect.

"So I thought," I replied composedly, "and have resolved to have nothing to do with pistols of any kind. They are an unsatisfactory weapon, and a man has got to be a good shot to put a ball just where he pleases at ten paces."

"Ah, then you have concluded to try the sword? A more gentlemanly weapon it would be hard to find. Let swords decide it, then."

I saw a glow of satisfaction upon the face of the lieutenant, and I knew that his princ.i.p.al was an adept in the use of the sword as well as though he had told me in so many words.

"I cannot make choice of the sword," I replied, "because my friend does not understand its use, and therefore the advantage would be all on your side."

"Then pray name what weapon you will fight with," Merriam said, impatiently.

"This is the weapon we will use," I replied, producing, to the astonishment of the officer, my three foot six inch barrel rifle, which, during our absence the day before, Smith had cleaned and polished up thoroughly.

"What is that?" he asked, astonished.

"This," I replied, "is an American rifle, and a very good one it is, I a.s.sure you."

"But we cannot fight with only one, and unless another is produced precisely like it, some other weapon will have to be resorted to," cried the officer, with a slight expression of joy.

"I am aware of that," I replied coolly, and to his astonishment I presented him with a fac-simile of the first.

"These rifles," I remarked, "were both made by the same person, and he was instructed to manufacture them without a shade of difference in regard to size or weight. The only method we have of telling them apart is to consult the stocks, where our names are engraved. Examine them attentively, and then select whichever you please. One is as good as the other, and each carries well."

The Englishman stared at the rifles with a countenance blank with dismay. They were weapons which he was entirely unacquainted with, and he felt that the safety of his princ.i.p.al demanded a remonstrance against their use.

"I object to the use of rifles," he said, at length, firmly and decidedly. "My friend is entirely unacquainted with these kind of weapons, and it would be madness on his part to go to the field with such odds against him."

I listened calmly, and with my mind unchanged. I knew that Fred's safety depended upon my selection, and inwardly vowed that if he had got to fight, he should settle the difficulty with his own weapons.

"This quarrel," I remarked, "is not of our seeking. A few words were spoken in jest by my friend, and as soon as spoken were forgotten; and it is probable that even now we should not remember the man we insulted.

If my friend has got to fight, he shall be placed upon an equality with his adversary."

"But I do not call this equality," echoed the lieutenant, gazing with looks of dismay at the rifles.

"Neither do I feel disposed to risk my friend's life with swords, a weapon which he knows nothing of," I replied.

"Then perhaps we had better settle the matter satisfactorily without fighting," Mr. Merriam said.

"With all my heart," I cried, with alacrity. "I will meet you half way in any scheme of pacification."

"Then let your friend say that he is sorry for using the words, and send a note to that effect to my princ.i.p.al."

"We can't do that," I replied, after a moment's thought. "But I will tell you what we will do. We will say that during all our travels we never saw a man who could suck a sword hilt so gracefully as your friend."

"Pshaw," cried the Englishman with a grim smile, "don't let us trifle over the matter, it is too serious."

"I know that, and it's the very reason why I wish to settle the quarrel without bloodshed," I answered.

"Then you decline to apologize?" inquired Merriam, after a short pause, during which he helped himself to another cup of coffee.

"Only on the grounds which I have stated," I answered.

"And you still insist upon rifles being used?" continued he.

"A just regard which I have for my friend compels me to say that I cannot conscientiously consent to use any other weapon. At the same time I protest against being called to the field for a few words spoken in jest."

The Englishman slowly sipped his coffee and remained deep in thought, as though there was some matter on his mind in which he wished enlightenment, yet feared to broach the subject. At length he showed his hand, and I saw his move.

"The rifle is extensively used in America, I believe," Merriam said, carelessly.

"In some sections of the country it is a favorite weapon," I replied.

"I have heard much of the rifle shooting in the United States, and have often longed to witness a specimen of the skill of its marksmen. Has your friend seen much service with that weapon?"

"He has lived in a city since he was twelve years of age," I replied, evasively, "and in cities there is not much chance to practise."

"Then he is not a skilful marksman?" cried Merriam, eagerly.

"He is fair," I replied. "In Vermont he would be called only a third-rate marksman."

"And pray, may I ask what you call a first cla.s.s marksman?"

"A good rifle shot is a man who can hit a shilling piece five times out of six, standing at a distance which requires a telescope to see the money."

"And what is a third-cla.s.s marksman?" asked the lieutenant, in dismay.

"He can hit the same only twice out of six times," I replied, composedly.

"The devil!" I heard my visitor mutter, between his teeth; but he was too much of an Englishman to retreat, and I fancied that he grew more and more determined when he learned that the odds were against him.

"The only matter that now remains unsettled," the lieutenant said, "is when the affair is to come off. What time do you think you shall be at leisure?"

"At any hour that suits your convenience."

"Would to-morrow morning be too soon?" hinted the officer.

"That time is as well as at a later period."

"And the distance? We must not talk about feet, but how many rods our friends are to be placed apart?" Merriam said.