Part 9 (1/2)
D'Arnot and Tarzan were first upon the field of honor A entleman arrived The last was introduced to D'Arnot and Tarzan; he was a physician
D'Arnot and Monsieur Flaubert spoke together in whispers for a brief time The Count de Coude and Tarzan stood apart at opposite sides of the field Presently the seconds summoned them D'Arnot and Monsieur Flaubert had examined both pistols The two men ere to face each other a moment later stood silently while Monsieur Flaubert recited the conditions they were to observe
They were to stand back to back At a signal from Monsieur Flaubert they were to walk in opposite directions, their pistols hanging by their sides When each had proceeded ten paces D'Arnot was to give the final signal--then they were to turn and fire at will until one fell, or each had expended the three shots allowed
While Monsieur Flaubert spoke Tarzan selected a cigarette frohted it De Coude was the personification of coolness--was he not the best shot in France?
Presently Monsieur Flaubert nodded to D'Arnot, and each man placed his principal in position
”Are you quite ready, gentlemen?” asked Monsieur Flaubert
”Quite,” replied De Coude
Tarzan nodded Monsieur Flaubert gave the signal He and D'Arnot stepped back a few paces to be out of the line of fire as the ht! There were tears in D'Arnot's eyes He loved Tarzan very nal he so hated to give To him it sounded the doom of his best friend
Quickly De Coude wheeled and fired Tarzan gave a little start His pistol still dangled at his side De Coude hesitated, as though waiting to see his antagonist cruround The Frenchman was too experienced a marksman not to know that he had scored a hit Still Tarzan made no move to raise his pistol De Coude fired once more, but the attitude of the ape-man--the utter indifference that was so apparent in every line of the nonchalant ease of his giant figure, and the even unruffled puffing of his cigarette--had disconcerted the best ain De Coude knew that he had hit
Suddenly the explanation leaped to histhese terrible chances in the hope that he would receive no staggering wound from any of De Coude's three shots Then he would take his own ti De Coude down deliberately, coolly, and in cold blood A little shi+ver ran up the Frenchman's spine It was fiendish--diabolical What manner of creature was this that could stand co for the third?
And so De Coude took careful aione, and he made a clean miss Not once had Tarzan raised his pistol hand fro
For a ht into each other's eyes On Tarzan's face was a pathetic expression of disappoint expression of horror--yes, of terror
He could endure it no longer
”Mother of God! Monsieur--shoot!” he screamed
But Tarzan did not raise his pistol Instead, he advanced toward De Coude, and when D'Arnot and Monsieur Flaubert,his intention, would have rushed between then of remonstrance
”Do not fear,” he said to them, ”I shall not harm him”
It was most unusual, but they halted Tarzan advanced until he was quite close to De Coude
”TherewithTake ain,” and Tarzan offered his pistol, butt foremost, to the astonished De Coude
”MON DIEU, monsieur!” cried the latter ”Are you mad?”
”No, my friend,” replied the ape-man; ”but I deserve to die It is the only way in which I ood woman Take my pistol and do as I bid”
”It would bedid you do my wife? She swore to me that--”
”I do notthat passed between us But that was enough to cast a shadow upon her naainst whom I had no enmity The fault was allI am disappointed that monsieur is not so wonderful a marksman as I had been led to believe”
”You say that the fault was all yours?” asked De Coude eagerly