THE DUEL.
It was hardly light when Chester, who had been unable to close his
eyes, aroused Lieutenant Anderson. The two finished dressing before
rousing Hal, thinking to give him all the rest possible before waking
him up. Finally Chester shook him by the shoulder.
"What's the matter," muttered Hal drowsily. "Time to get up already? I
just went to sleep. What's up? Oh, yes, I remember now. I'm to fight a
duel this morning. All right, I'll be ready in a jiffy."
"How did you sleep?" demanded Chester, as Hal was dressing.
"Fine. Never slept better in my life."
Lieutenant Anderson approached and laid his finger on Hal's pulse.
"You'll do," he said quietly.
"I haven't any nerves, if that is what you mean," said Hal with a
smile.
Lieutenant Anderson smiled back at him.
"I believe it," he replied. "But come, we had better be on our way."
Quietly the three left the tent. There was a penetrating chill in the
early morning air. It was light now, but the sun had not yet appeared
above the horizon. Dense clouds obscured the sky.
"Not a very cheerful morning to die," commented Hal lightly, as they
made their way quietly along.
"You are not afraid, are you?" asked Chester anxiously.
"What, after yesterday? Not a little bit."
"I don't believe you know what fear is," declared Lieutenant Anderson.
Lieutenant Dupree, his two friends and a surgeon were already on the
ground when Hal, Chester and Lieutenant Anderson arrived. All raised
their caps as they came together. The seconds drew apart to discuss
the details of the duel, Hal and Lieutenant Dupree in the meantime
discarding their coats and rolling up their sleeves.
The details completed, Hal and the French lieutenant were at last face
to face.
"On guard!" came the command, given by Lieutenant Anderson.
The swords flashed aloft.
A moment later and they were at it. For a few moments both combatants
were wary, each feeling the other out. A few passes and Hal realized
that he was no match for the more experienced Frenchman.
"I must be very careful," he told himself. "Perhaps I can wear him
down a bit, and slip over a light thrust. I certainly don't want to
kill him. And I don't want to be killed myself."
The French lieutenant was pressing him sorely now. His sword darted in
and out with dazzling rapidity, and Hal thanked his stars that he had
been fortunate enough to have had some schooling in the use of the
foil.
Hal contented himself with remaining on the defensive, and not an
attempt did he make to touch the Frenchman, although the latter left
several openings, only, Hal knew, to draw him on. The lieutenant at
last began to grow impatient, and with impatience came carelessness.
He had realized, as had Hal, with the first few passes, that the lad
was not an accomplished swordsman. And the fact now that he could not
penetrate the other's guard angered him.
Suddenly he aimed a fierce thrust at Hal, and the latter only escaped
being impaled on the other's sword by a quick leap aside. Before the
Frenchman could recover his balance, Hal stepped nimbly forward again,
his sword darted out, and the lieutenant dropped his weapon with a
muttered imprecation. Hal's point had pierced his arm just below the
shoulder.
The Frenchman's seconds immediately leaped forward, and Hal stepped
over to Chester and Lieutenant Anderson.
"I guess that ends it," he said. "I suppose his honor is appeased
now."
"Don't be too sure," replied Lieutenant Anderson. "He is likely to be
more furious than ever, and demand that the fight continue until one
of you fall. He must realize that you are no match for him, and he
counts on that to give him victory. However, I must say that you have
handled yourself well, and, if you keep your head, you may succeed in
dropping him."
The lieutenant's predictions proved correct. Lieutenant Dupree had had
his wound bandaged, and now demanded that the fight be resumed. Hal
was not the lad to protest, so the two were soon at swords' points
again.
But now both Hal and Lieutenant Dupree fought more warily. Hal could
read in his opponent's eyes that he had made up his mind to kill him.
Touched once because of his carelessness, Hal knew that the Frenchman
would be more wary.
In stepping back before a fierce thrust of his opponent's sword, Hal's
foot slipped. He threw up his arm, and for a moment was off his guard.
Before he could recover his balance, the Frenchman's sword flashed up
under his guard and pierced him through the left shoulder.
The lad staggered back, and the Frenchman, unheeding the accident and
the calls of Lieutenant Anderson and Chester, pressed his advantage.
With a grim smile he started a thrust that would have ended Hal's
days; but, with a sudden lurch, Hal staggered forward, threw up his
sword, and, with a terrific stroke, swept the sword from the
Frenchman's hand. Lieutenant Dupree was at his mercy.
The Frenchman stepped back and folded his arms, as Hal took a step
forward.
"Kill me," he said quietly.
"Run him through!" shouted Lieutenant Anderson. "He tried to kill you
unfairly."
Slowly Hal lowered his sword.
"No," he said, "I can't do it. Neither will I continue the fight." He
turned to his late opponent. "I hope your honor is satisfied," he
said.
The Frenchman turned, and, with bowed head, replaced his coat; then
with his two friends he walked away.
The surgeon hurried to Hal's side and peered at his wound.
"Not serious," he said, after an examination. "I'll have it fixed all
right in a moment."
The wound dressed, the surgeon offered Hal his hand.
"You are a gallant youngster," he said, "and I am proud to know you.
Many a man in your place would have killed his opponent. Your coolness
is a thing to be admired."
Hal shook hands with the surgeon, and the latter then took himself
off.
Lieutenant Anderson approached Hal and grasped him by both arms.
"You are all right," he said, emphasizing each word. "I was afraid it
was all up with you."
"And so was I," said Chester. "But, if you had fallen unfairly, I
would have killed him myself."
The three made their way back to the boys' quarters, where they sat
down and talked the duel over.
"The best thing you can do now," said Lieutenant Anderson to Hal
finally, "is to get a little rest. Both of you are wounded, and will
not have to report for duty. I shall tell General French that you will
be all right in a day or two."
"Tell him we shall be all right in an hour or two, that will be much
better," said Hal.
"Great Scott!" exclaimed the lieutenant. "Can't you even keep still
for a day?"
"Well," said Hal, "there is likely to be some real fighting to-day,
and we don't want to miss anything, do we Chester?"
"I should say not," was Chester's reply.