Four Canadian Highwaymen | Page 7

that in denying that
fitness, every statement that you have made is a falsehood. First, as to
his blood: he is a gentleman. And I know that in proving he is your
equal in this respect, you will pardon me for asking certain questions of
you, as you will my making certain statements of fact respecting him.
Pray, sir, who was your father?'
'A gentleman. He was the owner of this property; and held the position
of magistrate in this county, as I do.' Mr. Harland bowed.
'And who, then, sir, was his father?'
Mr. Ham winced; turned red; and then stood up, glaring at his
interrogator the picture of wild but impotent rage.
'I will not press the question, Mr. Ham; I will answer it. He was what
we describe as a "common person." That is, he was not a gentleman.'
Mr. Ham's face was dark with rage; but it soon began to assume its
ashen colour.
'Now, sir, Mr. Gray's father is a younger son of a fifth earl in the British
peerage. He is therefore by blood fit to meet in the field of honour the
grandson of a--Nobody. Then, sir, as to the undefined charges against
his character, they are gratuitous falsehoods. If, with these facts before
you, a refusal of satisfaction is still made, I have only this to say: the
unpleasant task of horsewhipping you remains to my friend; while the
duty of proclaiming your cowardice remains to me. What is your
answer?'
'Though your language has been such as I never believed that anybody
would dare use in my house, I am constrained to accept your statements
respecting your friend's fitness to meet me in the field of honour.' Then,
as a spasm of terror almost convulsed him, he suddenly asked:
'What weapons does he propose? I cannot fence.'

'This is a matter that your friend and I shall arrange. The choice of
weapons, however, I may add, rests with your side.'
'Then please wait till I write a note to--Jabez Drummond,' and the
fellow, taking a pen, seated himself at his desk. But his fears had so
unnerved him that he made several attempts before he could get the pen
into the ink bottle; and wasted several sheets of paper before his hand
was steady enough to produce legible writing. When he had ended he
turned to the visitor:
'Will you not take a glass of spirits before you go? Will you not come
and breakfast with me?' His cringing manner was most despicable; and
Harland answered in a tone of quiet scorn:
'No, thank you.'
Then placing the letter into Harland's hands, he said:
'Can this not be made a formal encounter? I have read that this thing is
often done.'
'What do you mean, Mr. Ham?'
'That we do not, for example, use bullets. Let it be blank charges.'
'Of course you are at liberty to do what you please in this respect,'
Harland answered, with irony. 'But we shall use bullets.'
'My God, Mr. Harland, you seem to delight in taking the part of a
monster.'
'Good morning, Mr. Ham.'
'But when, where-about what time, I mean, is this to take place?'
'That I shall arrange with your friend. But I may say that there can be
no valid reason to prevent it taking place to-morrow at the rise of sun.
Good morning, Mr. Ham,' and without further words he left the house,
mounted his horse, and rode away.

CHAPTER III.
THE DUEL.
On the following morning, Gray, accompanied by his second, rode
away towards the place of meeting. The sun had not risen, but the
eastern arc of the horizon was suffused with deep crimson which
terminated in a rosy pink. A small hollow running at right angles to the
Don, and known at that time as Sleepy Gulch, was the place chosen for
the encounter. As the two men reached the mouth of this gulch they
perceived the opposite party upon the brow of the hill. A second or two
later another horseman appeared. This was the medical gentleman.
The combatants met, and Roland bowed haughtily to Mr. Ham. To
Drummond he said simply:
'Good morning, sir.' Harland took his friend aside for a moment. There
was a look of mingled disgust and merriment in his face.
'Merciful heaven,' he said, 'look at the size of our friend Ham.'
'I have noticed it,' replied our hero, with a contemptuous curl of his lip.
'I firmly believe he has half the bedclothes of his establishment
wrapped about him,' Roland interrupted.
'Proceed with business, Mr. Harland.' That gentleman, walking up to
Mr. Drummond, said:
'I wish a word with you-Is your master indisposed?'
'He declares that he took a violent cold, and has been suffering of
shivers all night.'
'I am