The Tory Maid | Page 9

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