SIR SQUIRE OF TORY DAMES
"Well, Sir Squire of Tory Dames, did she smile on you?" The voice was
harsh and rasping; looking across the table, I saw the sneer upon his
lips. I had but entered a moment before the dining-room of the inn,
after my long ride, and was about to take my seat, when Rodolph's
sneering question made me pause.
"That is more than you could ever win, my Mighty Lord from Nowhere," I
retorted. At this there was a laugh from those about. An angry flush
showed through even his dark and swarthy skin; for, being a burly
bully of the border, he liked not being bearded thus by a youth.
"You damned impudent puppy!" he cried, rising.
But there stood a glass at my right hand, full to the brim, and ere he
could say another word the red wine flew across the table straight
into his face.
"Take that!" I cried, "with the compliments of James Frisby of
Fairlee!"
A dozen men were now around us, and Rodolph, spluttering through the
wine and swearing many oaths, demanded to be released from the hands
upon his shoulders, shouting that he would shoot me like a dog.
"It will give me pleasure to let you have an opportunity," I replied
coolly. "It will be a rare chance for you to become a gentleman."
And so, still muttering and swearing, his friends took him from the
room, while I took my seat at the table. But I was not allowed to eat
my meal in peace; for many gentlemen came to offer their services and
to thank me. Rodolph's overbearing manners had long been unpopular
among them, and the wonder was that he had not been forced to fight
before. But I was determined that Dick should be my second, and so,
thanking them all for their kind offers, I placed my hand on Dick's
shoulder, and we went out together amid a volley of advice and
friendly warning.
Half an hour later, as I was examining my sword and Dick his pistols,
there came a rap on my door, and two gentlemen entered; one was
Captain Brooke, the other Lieutenant Barry of the Line.
"Lieutenant Frisby," said Captain Brooke, as he advanced and bowed,
"it is my painful duty to deliver you this challenge."
"It is a pleasure to receive it from your hands," I replied,
returning his courtesy. "Lieutenant Ringgold and Harry Gresham of Kent
will act as my seconds, permit me to refer you to them."
Dick now went out with them to Harry Gresham's room near by, where
they would be safe from interruption, Gresham having volunteered with
Dick to be one of my seconds, and I went on polishing my sword,
waiting for the issue. At last Dick came back.
"Well," he cried, "it is all settled. You are to fight to-morrow
morning at sunrise down in the little meadow below the creek."
"Swords, I suppose?"
"No; pistols. I insisted on swords at first, it being our privilege;
but Captain Brooke said that Rodolph had broken his arm the year
before, and that it was still too weak to fight with. So I waived the
swords and agreed to the pistols."
"It is not quite as gentlemanly a weapon, but just as deadly. I have
put a bullet through the head of a wild duck flying, and I think I can
hit Phil Rodolph."
"That you can," said Dick.
It was a bright, clear morning as we slipped out of the inn on our way
to the little meadow. The eastern sky was already tinged with crimson,
and the blood-red lances across the heavens told of the coming dawn.
The air was fresh and cool as it blew up the river from the bay, and
our lungs drew in great draughts of it as we felt the breeze in our
faces.
"A splendid morning to die on," said Harry Gresham.
"And to live on, too," I replied.
"Stop your croaking, Gresham," put in Dick Ringgold. We walked on
silently to the meadow, where we found that we were the first to
arrive.
Though I have stood on many a field of honour since that day, though I
have felt the bullet tearing and burning its way through the flesh,
and the sudden, sharp pain of the sword thrust, I shall never forget
that encounter on the meadow beside the Elk, when I first faced the
muzzle of a hostile pistol, and knew that the will behind it sought my
life.
It was not fear that I felt as I stood there, waiting for the coming
of my adversary, for fear has always been foreign to my family, but a
sort of secret elation. For that day, if I survived, though the down
upon my lip was as yet imperceptible, I could take my place as a man
among men. No longer would my boyish face keep me out of the councils
of my elders, but I would have the right to take my stand and ruffle
it with the best of them all. I was there to win my spurs as a man
and a duellist, and to show to all the world that I had the courage of
my race. For then, as it has ever been in the fair province of
Maryland, we love above all else courage in a man; and so it was I
waited with impatience Rodolph's approach, for it meant the casting
off of the boy and the making of the man.
We did not have long to wait, for Rodolph and his seconds soon
followed us down the path, and each party saluted. Then Captain Brooke
and Dick Ringgold measured off the paces, and threw for the choice of
positions. Dick won, and I found myself standing near a small sapling,
with my back to the rising sun, which as yet had not climbed over the
tree tops, and so did not interfere with Rodolph's position. Facing
me, twelve paces away, stood Rodolph, his dark, swarthy face darker,
more Indian-like, and forbidding than ever; behind him stretched away
the small glade, and the smooth green waters of the river, as they
wound their way between the tall forests on either side. I remember
watching a wild duck as he went swiftly flying down the Elk, when Dick
Ringgold's "Are you ready?" suddenly recalled me to my position.
"Yes," I nodded. Then came the even counting, "One, two;" but ere
"two" had been uttered, I saw the flash of Rodolph's pistol, and felt
the sharp pain of the bullet tearing its way into my side. While I,
taken by surprise at such rank treachery, fired not so accurately as
usual, and my bullet clipped his ear. Dick's sword was out in an
instant, and I verily believe he would have run Rodolph through on the
spot, as it was his duty and right to do, so base was the crime of
firing before the time--a thing that had never been known among
Maryland gentlemen before. But seeing me reel, he came to my
assistance, and threw his arm around me.
"Tie me to the sapling, Dick," said I, "and give me one more shot."
"But no gentleman should fight with such a scoundrel!" cried Dick
hotly.
"I waive that, just one more shot."
So, with Harry Gresham's assistance, they took Dick's sash and tied me
to the sapling, and in this way enabled me to keep an upright
position. Captain Brooke had come forward to inquire as to my injury,
but Dick met him and demanded another exchange of shots. "My
principal," he said, "waives the treachery that places your principal
beyond the pale of men of honour. But," continued Dick, "if he should
dare to fire again before the time, I will shoot him down where he
stands."
Captain Brooke flushed, and though we saw that it was painful to him
as a man of honour to be the second of such a principal, he could do
nothing but accept. "I will shoot him down myself," said he, "if he
dares again to do it."
He then returned to his party, and we saw by his angry gestures that
he was warning Rodolph of the penalty if he should a second time
transgress the rules of honour.
Again we faced, and I could feel the strength ebbing fast from me, but
I could see that Rodolph's face was pale, even through his swarthy
skin. "One, two, three, Fire," came again the fateful words; but I had
nerved myself for the final effort, and glancing down the polished
barrel, I fired, at the same moment that Rodolph's pistol rang out.
For a moment I saw him standing there, and then he lurched forward,
with his arms in the air, and fell face downward as the mortally
wounded do. With that there came a mist before my eyes, my hand fell
to my side, and I remembered nothing more. They told me afterward that
they carried me to the inn in the village, Captain Brooke assisting,
after they had seen that Rodolph was dead. "Leave him there for
awhile," said the Captain, as he came to assist Dick in my removal.
"The dog had a better death than he deserved."