ved by this rudeness, the stranger continued his frugal repast
until another cherry-stone, from the same hand, struck him upon the
right elbow. This also, to the infinite amusement of the party, he
picked from the floor, and carefully deposited with the first.

Amidst shouts of laughter, a third cherry-stone was soon after
discharged, and struck the stranger upon the left breast. This also
he very deliberately deposited with the other two.

As he rose, and was engaged in paying for his repast, the gaiety of
these sporting gentlemen became slightly subdued. Having discharged
his reckoning, he walked to the table at which the young men were
sitting, and with that air of dignified calmness which is a thousand
times more terrible than wrath, drew a card from his pocket, and
presented it with perfect civility to the offender, who could do no
other than offer his in return. While the stranger unclosed his
surtout, to take the card from his pocket, he displayed the undress
coat of a military man. The card disclosed his rank, and a brief
inquiry at the bar was sufficient for the rest. He was a captain whom
ill-health and long service had entitled to half-pay. In earlier life
he had been engaged in several affairs of honour, and, in the dialect
of the fancy, was a dead shot.

The next morning a note arrived at the aggressor's residence,
containing a challenge, in form, and one of the cherry-stones. The
truth then flashed before the challenged party--it was the
challenger's intention to make three bites at this cherry--three
separate affairs out of this unwarrantable frolic! The challenge was
accepted, and the challenged party, in deference to the challenger's
reputed skill with the pistol, had half decided upon the small sword;
but his friends, who were on the alert, soon discovered that the
captain, who had risen by his merit, had, in the earlier days of his
necessity, gained his bread as an accomplished instructor in the use
of that weapon.

They met, and fired alternately, by lot--the young man had selected
this mode, thinking he might win the first fire--he did--fired, and
missed his opponent. The captain levelled his pistol and fired--the
ball passed through the flap of the right ear; and, as the wounded
man involuntarily put his hand to the place, he remembered that it
was the right ear of his antagonist that the first cherry-stone had
struck. Here ended the first lesson. A month passed. His friends
cherished the hope