itably fall. However, I
consented to practice a little to quiet his importunity. Truly, it
seemed that his urgent solicitation was reasonable enough, for the
first fire my ball was several feet wide of the mark. I had never
fired a pistol before in my life. But there was no quivering of nerve,
no misgiving as to my fate; for notwithstanding I was aware of being a
novice, yet I entertained a conviction, a presentiment, that the
destroyer of my Laura's innocence would fall beneath my hand. The next
fire I did better, and soon learned to strike the centre.

"We were all on the ground at the hour appointed. While the seconds
were arranging the necessary preliminaries, Wold, finding that my eyes
rested steadily upon him, endeavoured to intimidate me. There was a
bush some thirty paces distant, from which a slim, solitary sprout ran
up several feet above the rest of the branches. He gazed an instant at
it while I was marking him, and then raised his pistol, and fired in
the direction. The sprout fell. Turning, his eyes met mine, while a
slight smile was visible on his lip. The effect did not realize his
hopes. I looked upon the act with such cold indifference that he at
first betrayed surprise at my calmness, and then exhibited palpable
signs of trepidation himself. He beckoned Knabb to him, and, after a
brief conference in a low tone, his second returned to my friend, and
inquired if no amends, no reconciliation, could avert the exchange of
shots. My friend reported his words to me, and my reply was that
nothing but the restitution of the maiden's honour--instant
marriage--would be satisfaction. Wold protested--marriage was utterly
impossible under existing circumstances--but he would do any thing
else. But nothing else would answer; and I insisted on proceeding to
business without further delay. Wold heard me, and became pale. When
we were placed at our respective stations, and while the final
arrangements were being adjusted, I thought his replies to his
friend's observations betrayed much alarm. But there was no retreat. I
was never calmer in my life, I even smiled when my careful friend told
me that he had detected and prevented a concerted plan that would have
given Wold the advantage. The word was given. Wold's ball struck the
earth before me, and threw some sand in my face. Mine entered the
seducer's side! I saw him gasp, reel, and fall, while the blood gushed
out on the beach. My friend hurried me away, and paused no