word,
"_Present!_" The two raised their weapons, and Skelton Jones began to
count "One--two--three! Fire!" Rand fired. Cary swayed slightly,
recovered himself, and stood firm. Fairfax Cary took the count.
"One--two--three! Fire!" The elder Cary slowly turned the muzzle of his
pistol from his waiting antagonist, and fired into the air.

The report echoed from the winding river-banks. For an appreciable
moment, until it died away, the participants in the meeting stood
motionless, then the seconds bestirred themselves and ran forward.

"But a single shot, each, gentlemen--that was agreed upon!" cried the
one, and the other, "Ludwell, you are wounded! Where is it? Dr. McClurg!
Dr. McClurg!"

"It is nothing, Fair,--through the shoulder." Cary waved him aside and
turned a face, pale but composed, upon Lewis Rand, who now stood before
him. Rand's hue was dark red, his features working. "Why," he demanded
hoarsely,--"why did you not fire upon me?" The agitation, marked as it
was, ceased or was controlled even as he spoke. The colour faded, the
brow lost its corrugations, and the voice its thickness. Before his
antagonist could reply, he spoke again. "It was yours, of course, to do
what you pleased with. I sincerely trust that your wound is not deep. I
have regretted the necessity--I profess myself entirely satisfied."

"That is well," answered Cary, "and I thank you, Mr. Rand. The wound is
utterly of no consequence."

"Here is Dr. McClurg," said Rand. "I will wait yonder to hear that
confirmed."

He walked to the river-bank and stood, as Cary had stood a little
earlier, gazing over the falls and eddies and fairy islands to the blue
woods on the farther shore. Under the oak which he had left, the doctor
looked and handled, with a pursed lip, a keen eye, and a final "Humph!"
of relief. "High and clean through and just a little splintered. You'll
wear your arm in a sling for a while, Mr. Cary! Mr. Fairfax Cary, you're
too white by half! There's a brandy flask in yonder case. Mr. Jones, the
wound is slight."

"Why, that's good hearing!" cried Skelton Jones. "Mr. Cary must return
to town in the coach, with Mr. Fairfax Cary and with you, Doctor. Mr.
Rand and I will take the chaise. My profound regard, and my compliments,
Mr. Cary! Mr. Fairfax Cary, may I have the pleasure of acting with you
again! Doctor, good-morning. Now, Mr. Rand."

Rand turned from his contemplation of the river, advanced toward the
group beneath the o