affairs.

Early the next day Sir Frederick saw Catesby and gave him my challenge.

"And so," said the lawyer, "your friend grows tired of this life and
desires to join the saints?"

"Indeed, sir," my friend replied, "the chances of your going to another
world are equally good; though whether thy companions there will be
saints or no, I cannot tell."

To this retort Catesby made no reply.

The place and time of our meeting were settled. At sundown that
evening we were to meet near the far end of the Little Park, where a
large oak doth stand alone. This time and place were decided on in
order to make certain that we should not be interrupted; for this spot
was never frequented at that hour.

That evening, at about the half of an hour before the appointed time I,
accompanied by Harleston, set out by a round about way, so that when
Catesby and his second should go to the meeting place no one Would
suspect our object. They, however, having taken the more direct and
therefore shorter path, had reached the spot and were waiting when we
arrived.

Sir Richard Ratcliffe was to act as Catesby's second.

The spot chosen was one which seemed made by nature purposely for such
contests. For the distance of about a score of feet all around the
great oak--which arose in the centre like an ever watchful sentinel
guarding that portion of the park--the ground was clear and level as a
round green table. As I looked up at that fine old veteran which had
braved the storms of centuries, and still showed no other signs of its
contests than his battle scarred old features, methought of the many
engagements he had watched, and the tales of bloodshed he might tell if
he but could.

The sun was no longer shining where we stood, but the top of the great
tree still caught his last gleams as he sank below the horizon. As the
last of these rays left the old oak our time was up, so we began to
strip for the encounter. We took off our cloaks, belts and doublets,
and gave them unto our seconds, who laid them in two heaps, one on each
side of the open space. I rolled up my right sleeve to the shoulder,
and Harleston handed unto me my naked sword. My friend and Ratcliffe
spoke together in whispers, for a moment, and then the latter, standing
with his back to the tree, said in a loud clear voice:--

"Gentlemen:--Sir Frederick Harleston and I have agreed, in your behalf,
in case either of you should be disarmed, or placed in a position w