, in expressing
fear and concern, and breaking forth into exclamations of "Good God!
gentlemen, what d'ye mean? You shall not murder one another while it is
in my power to prevent your purpose. I will go directly to the governor
of the place, who shall interpose his authority--I say--" instead
of these and other friendly menaces of prevention, Jolter heard the
proposal with the most phlegmatic tranquility, and excused himself from
accepting the honour he intended for him, on account of his character
and situation, which would not permit him to be concerned in any such
rencontres. Indeed, this mortifying reception was owing to a previous
hint from Peregrine, who, dreading some sort of interruption from his
governor, had made him acquainted with his design, and assured him, that
the affair should not be brought to any dangerous issue.

Thus disappointed, the dejected challenger was overwhelmed with
perplexity and dismay; and, in the terrors of death or mutilation,
resolved to deprecate the wrath of his enemy, and conform to any
submission he should propose, when he was accidentally encountered by
our adventurer, who, with demonstrations of infinite satisfaction, told
him in confidence, that the billet had thrown the doctor into an agony
of consternation; that his acceptance of his challenge was a mere effort
of despair, calculated to confound the ferocity of the sender, and
dispose him to listen to terms of accommodation; that he had imparted
the letter to him with fear and trembling, on pretence of engaging him
as a second, but, in reality, with a view of obtaining his good offices
in promoting a reconciliation; "but, perceiving the situation of his
mind," added our hero, "I thought it would be more for your honour to
baffle his expectation, and therefore I readily undertook the task of
attending him to the field, in full assurance that he will there humble
himself before you, even to prostration. In this security, you may go
and prepare your arms, and bespeak the assistance of Pipes, who will
squire you in the field, while I keep myself up, that our correspondence
may not be suspected by the physician." Pallet's spirits, that were
sunk to dejection, rose at this encouragement to all the insolence of
triumph; he again declared his contempt of danger, and his pistols being
loaded and accommodated with new flints, by his trusty armour-bearer, he
waited, without flinching, for the hour of battle.

On the first approach of