Part 3 (2/2)

When the new-comers had advanced a certain distance into thehis stand under the tree, stepped out toa few paces behind

A sort of quadruple boas the exchanged salutation; then the principals reher to one another, and entering upon the required conference

Only a feords passed between them, as but feere required; the weapons, distance, and ed

There was no talk of apology--nor thought of it being either offered or accepted By their attitude, and in their looks, both the challenged and challenger showed a full, firht

Duperon did not seem to care much one way or the other, and the Kentuckian was not the sort to seek conciliation--with an insult such as his captain had received calling for chastisement

After the preliain separated-- each to attend upon his principal

The young Irishman took off his coat, and rolled back his shi+rt sleeves up to the elbow Santander, on the other hand, ore a red flannel shi+rt under his a the shi+rt sleeves as they were, buttoned around the wrist

Everybody was now silent; the hackney-drivers on their boxes, the doctors, the gigantic Texan, all loofrom the cypresses around were appropriate drapery for such a scene

In thefroe and wild, it was enough not only to startle, but awe the stoutest heart A shrill, continued cachinnation, which, though huht huhtened no one there, all knohat it was--the cackling cry of the white-headed eagle

As it ended, but before its echoes had ceased reverberating a, woke the echoes of the forest further down This, the _hooa_ of the great southern owl, seeh

In all countries, and throughout all ages, the hooting of the owl has been superstitiously dreaded as oht have dismayed our duellists, had they been e

Neither were, or see in their ears, they advanced, and with rapiers upraised, stood confronting each other, but one look on their faces, and one thought in their hearts--”_to kill_!”

CHAPTER SEVEN

A DUEL ”TO THE DEATH”

The duellists stood confronting one another, in the position of ”salute,” both hands on high grasping their swords at hilt and point, the blades held horizontally The second of each was in his place, on the left hand of his principal, half a pace in advance But afor the word The second of the challenger had the right to give it, and Crittenden was not the e_!” he cried out, in a fir half a pace forward, Duperon doing the saainst foul play; soh not always intended For in the excitery passion, one or other of the principals may close too quickly--to prevent which is the duty of the seconds

Quick, at the ”engage,” both cauard” with a collision that struck sparks froer of the adversaries

Had they been cooler, they would have crossed swords quietly But when, the instant after, they came to _tierce_, both appearedin contact, and gliding around each other as if they had been a single piece

For several minutes this cautious play continued, without further sparks, or only such as appeared to scintillate from the eyes of the combatants Then came a counter-thrust, quickly followed by a counter parry, with no advantage to either

Long ere this, an observer acquainted with the weapons they ielding, could have seen that of the two Kearney was the better swords fro Irishman showed hiht and do the ith his wrist, whilst the Creole kept bending his elbow, thus exposing his forear swords al equal

In Kearney's case, it perhaps proved the saving of his life; since it seeonist to thrust in upon hiht point, from shoulder far outstretched, and never for an instant obliquely, foiled all his attempts