THE DUEL.
"Are you ready, gentlemen?"
The sun was just peeping over the horizon.
Beyond the city limits, near a strip of timber far down the Sound, five
persons had met.
Two of them were Frank Merriwell and Robert Marline, who were to fight a
deadly duel there that beautiful morning.
Two more were their seconds, Jack Diamond and Sport Harris.
The fifth was a young collegian named Morton, who was studying medicine
and surgery. He had brought along a case of instruments, although he was
not certain this was to be a duel in deadly earnest.
Merriwell and Marline, despite the fact that the morning air was keen
and cold, had stripped off their coats and vests and were in their shirt
sleeves.
Now they stood facing each other, weapons in hand.
Frank's face was calm and confident, as if he had not the least doubt
concerning the outcome of the affair. His nerves were under admirable
control. He was a trifle paler than usual.
Marline, on the other hand, was flushed and nervous. He had taken
several drinks of whiskey to brace him, and Merriwell's calm confidence
was something he could not understand. At that moment, Frank seemed like
the duelist and Marline like the novice.
The sun shot a single lance of light across the world, and then Diamond,
who had been chosen to give the signal, spoke the word that set the
rivals at each other.
Clash! clash! clash! The bright blades clanged sharply on the morning
air. The sunshine glittered coldly on their polished lengths.
At first the work was of a very scientific order, for each man seemed
feeling of the other to discover just how much skill he possessed.
Marline was more than ever astonished, for he had scarcely fancied Frank
could be an expert with such a weapon. Now, however, he saw by the
manner in which Frank handled himself, by his every move, that he was a
skillful swordsman.
The boy from the South attempted to force the fighting. The whiskey went
to his head, and he fought savagely, his teeth set and his eyes
gleaming. Deadly determination was in his every move. The seconds and
the surgeon watched breathlessly.
Suddenly there was a cry. By a twisting movement of his wrist, Frank had
disarmed his enemy, sending Marline's blade spinning into the air.
The sword fell with a clang on the frozen ground at Rob's feet, and he
instantly snatched it up. Then he came at Frank with the fury of one
driven mad.
Merriwell was forced to give ground before the fierce onslaught of his
enemy. He knew well enough that Marline was exceedingly dangerous, for
he had flung discretion to the winds and was exposing himself in all
ways by his fierce desire to get at Frank.
Merriwell did not wish to wound Marline, but hoped to humble him.
However, it began to look as if Frank would be forced to do his best in
self-defense.
He had remarkable control of himself, and watched his chance. It came in
a short time, and again he twisted the sword from Marline's hand.
Marline fell back before Merriwell's half-lifted sword.
"Kill me!" he passionately cried. "Kill me now, or I'll kill you!"
Merriwell lowered his blade.
In a moment Marline sprang to the spot where his sword had fallen,
caught it up, and turned on Frank again.
"On guard!" he shouted.
Like a whirlwind, he came at Merriwell.
Clash! clash! clash! It was a terrific battle now. The young surgeon was
excited and frightened.
"It must be stopped!" he cried. "Marline is determined to kill him! We
must stop it!"
Snap!--Frank Merriwell's blade broke within a foot of the hilt!
With a hoarse shout of victorious fury, Marline thrust straight at
Frank's breast!
Merriwell succeeded in foiling the thrust with the part of his weapon
that remained in his hand, but Marline's sword passed through Frank's
shirt sleeve at the shoulder.
The seconds and the surgeon had started forward to interfere, but, with
a gasping curse, Marline flung his sword on the ground and covered his
eyes with his hands, his whole body quivering.
Diamond caught up the weapon the Southerner had flung down, muttering:
"There's no telling what he may try to do next. I'll keep this out of
his reach."
But Marline had no thought of resuming the duel. When he lowered his
hand from his face, his shame was betrayed.
"Mr. Merriwell," he said, his voice quivering, "I wish to apologize to
you."
All were astonished.
"For what?" asked Frank, calmly.
"You have shown yourself more honorable than I," said Marline, although
every word cut him like the stroke of a knife. "Twice you disarmed me
and took no advantage of it. But when my turn came, my hatred for you
was so great I lost my head. I tried to kill you. I offer a humble
apology, and say what I never expected to say to any living being--you
have shown yourself more honorable than I."
That was enough to touch Frank, and all the past was forgotten in a
moment. With an impulse of generosity, he held out his hand.
"Take it!" he cried. "Let's call the past buried."
Marline shook his head.
"I can't!" he exclaimed. "I can't be a hypocrite. You have shown
yourself the more honorable, Merriwell, but I hate you still. I shall
try to forget it, but, with my disposition, it will not be easy. If I
conquer myself, some day, perhaps, I'll accept your hand--if you care to
offer it then."
"When the time comes," said Frank, "my hand will be open to you."
Then the dueling party broke up.
When Frank reached his room, he found a letter from Inza awaiting him.
This is what he read:
"DEAR FRANK: I have been a foolish girl, and I am ashamed. I
can't say more this way, but will explain everything when I see
you. Please come to me. Come as soon as possible.
"Inza."
Frank's heart gave a great bound as he read this communication. He could
not go to see Inza at once, but he sent word that he would call that
evening.
When he arrived, he found Inza awaiting him alone, the girl's aunt
having wisely withdrawn.
"Oh, Frank--I--I----" she began, and then she could not go on, for he
caught her in his arms and gave her a tight squeeze.
"Don't let's talk about it," he said, cheerily. "I guess it was all a
mistake."
"I had no right to bind you down, Frank," said Inza, softly. "It has
been a lesson to me. You know what is best, always, and after this you
shall have your own way in everything."
"Are you quite sure of that?" he said, softly, looking into her clear
eyes, which immediately dropped. "Then, I'm going to have my way now."
And a kiss followed, which seemed to be a complete forgiveness all
around.
Then she told him of Marline, and he understood something of what had
led to the duel.
But he did not tell Inza of that terrible encounter, and the girl did
not learn of it until some time later.