ied me off to the scene of action--a field close by the
Castle.

"There certainly was a miscellaneous assemblage of the inhabitants of
Mallow, all anxious to see the duel. They had pitted us like game-cocks,
and bets were freely taken as to the chances of our killing one another,
and the particular spots. One betted on my being hit in the jaw, another
was so kind as to lay the odds on my knee. A tolerably general opinion
appeared to prevail that one or other of us was to be killed; and much
good-humoured joking took place among them, while they were deciding
which. As I was double the thickness of my antagonist, I was clearly the
favourite for being shot; and I heard one fellow near me say, 'Three to
two on Burke, that he's shot first--I bet in ten-pennies.'

"Brady and Codd soon appeared, and the preliminaries were arranged with
much punctilio between our seconds, who mutually and loudly extolled
each other's gentlemanlike mode of doing business. Brady could scarcely
stand with fright, and I confess that I did not feel quite as Hector of
Troy, or the Seven Champions of Christendom, are reported to have done
on similar occasions. At last the ground was measured--the pistols
handed to the principals--the handkerchief dropped--whiz! went the
bullet within an inch of my ear--and crack! went mine exactly on Ensign
Brady's waistcoat pocket. By an unaccountable accident, there was a
five-shilling piece in that very pocket, and the ball glanced away,
while Brady doubled himself down, uttering a loud howl that might be
heard half a mile off. The crowd was so attentive as to give a huzza for
my success.

"Codd ran up to his principal, who was writhing as if he had ten
thousand colics, and soon ascertained that no harm was done.

"'What do you propose,' said he to my second--'What do you propose to
do, Major?'

"'As there is neither blood drawn nor bone broken,' said the Major, 'I
think that shot goes for nothing.'

"'I agree with you,' said Captain Codd.

"'If your party will apologise,' said Major Mug, 'I'll take my man off
the ground.'

"'Certainly,' said Captain Codd, 'you are quite right, Major, in asking
the apology, but you know that it is my duty to refuse it.'

"'You are correct, Captain,' said the Major; 'I then formally require
that Ensign Brady apologise to Mr Burke.'

"'I as formally refuse it,' said Captain Codd.

"'We must have another shot then,' said the Major.

"'Another shot, by all means,' said