are not going to come up to the scratch," said Ned M'Gill
to the other honourable gent--as they passed the Clydesdale Cricket
Ground a few minutes to four o'clock on that memorable morning. Ned,
however, was wrong. Through the grey dawn a muffled figure was observed
crossing the Pollokshields Athletic Club's Park, and making direct for
the old castle. Almost simultaneously came a second individual from the
vicinity of Crossmyloof, smoking a cigar. There was no doubt about it,
for on closer inspection the figure was that of Lambert, who generally
indulged in a good cigar, as he had a friend in the Anchor Line who was
always supplying him with "weeds."

A very short time sufficed to measure the distance, but the would-be
_murderers_, no doubt, considered it an age. When the seconds advanced
along with their men to the fatal spot, and placed them twenty paces
apart, Charlie put one in mind of the poor misguided boy in "The
Rivals." His hand shook, and his knees almost touched one another.

_The signal was given_, and bang went the revolvers from both sides.
None of the young men, however, seemed to have been hit; and while
Charlie was almost sinking on the ground from excitement, Bob might have
been seen examining his weapon with suspicion, at the same time casting
a glance at his rival and wondering why he did not fall. A second or two
more, and the latter fired another shot, and this time poor Charlie
dropped his pistol and fell back on the grass.

Bob was satisfied he had done the business now, and taking the advice of
Davie Merricks, he fled for his life; getting the early train for
Greenock and thence per steamer "Golden Eagle," to the Isle of Man.

The "seconds" (and a few strange figures that were seen lurking about)
of course, lifted the supposed dying man from the grass, and as his
"life's blood ebbed away," they whispered about being willing to fill a
last request. Poor Charlie's brow was covered with blood, and as he
himself expressed the terrible sensation of "feeling a pistol ball
bobbing about in his brain," arrangements were hastily made for having
him consigned to relatives. Accordingly his lodgings were sought after
and easily found by the excited hansom driver who had taken them near
the fatal spot.

All the time the affair was going on the driver threw out grave hints
about reporting the whole matter to the police. When they reached
Greenfield Avenue, however, there was still some life in Charlie, b