Part 53 (1/2)
”We must. There's nothing else to be done.”
Ashby shook his head.
”I don't see how,” said he.
”It's plain enough,” said Harry. ”We can take it turn about.”
”But the man who fires the first shot has an immense advantage,” said Ashby.
”Pardon me,” said Harry; ”that does not necessarily follow. He may hit his foe, of course, but the wound may only be a trifling one after all; or he may miss his shot altogether. It often happens so in duels. Moreover, as you very well know, in a duel it never happens that both fire at the same instant. One always fires a little before the other. So in our case it will simply amount to this, that one of us will fire a little before the other. In that case the first man may miss, and the second man will then come in for his turn.”
”But how shall we decide who is to fire first?” said Ashby.
”Oh, that's easy enough,” said Harry; ”we can toss up.”
”Oh, very well.”
”Have you a coin?”
”Not one.”
”Nor I--not a copper, even. The beggarly Carlists have drained me dry.”
”We must find something else,” said Ashby.
”Oh, there needn't be any difficulty about that. A b.u.t.ton will do quite as well.”
And with this Harry cut one of the b.u.t.tons from his trousers.
”This will do,” said he. ”The face of the b.u.t.ton will be 'head,' and the back of it 'tail.' And now, will you try it?”
He handed it to Ashby, who took it without a word.
”If it falls 'heads,' the first fire will be yours; if 'tails,' the first fire will be mine.”
”Very well,” said Ashby; and then, poising the b.u.t.ton for a moment, he tossed it.
It fell, head uppermost.
”Heads!” said Harry. ”Mr. Ashby, the first fire belongs to you.
Here's the pistol. It's loaded. I'll take my position here. Shall I measure the distance?”
”Pardon me, Mr. Rivers,” said Ashby; ”but I cannot accept this from one throw. It must be the best out of three times.”
”I don't see why.”
”I should not accept it under any other conditions.”
”Oh, very well. Let us both act so as to satisfy one another,” said Harry. ”In that case you had better toss again.”
Ashby now picked up the b.u.t.ton, and tossed a second time. This time it fell face downward.