word
with my right, intending to run him through the heart; but he received
the thrust in the left arm, which penetrated up to the shoulder blade.
Disappointed at this expectation, and afraid still that death would
frustrate my revenge, I grappled with him, and, being much the stronger,
threw him upon the ground, where I wrested his sword out of his hand,
and, so great was my confusion, that instead of turning the point upon
him, struck out three of his foreteeth with the hilt. In the meantime,
our servants, seeing us fall, ran up to separate and assist us; but
before their approach I was upon my feet, and had discovered that my
supposed mortal wound was only a slight scratch. The knowledge of my
own safety disarmed me of a good deal of my resentment, and I began
to inquire with soma concern into the situation of my antagonist, who
remained on the ground bleeding plentifully at his mouth and arm. I
helped his footman to raise him, and, having bound up his wound with
my handkerchief, assured it was not dangerous; I likewise restored his
sword, and offered to support him to his house. He thanked me with an
air of sullen dignity: and whispering that I should hear from him soon,
went away, leaning on his servant's shoulder.

I was surprised at this promise, which I construed into a threat, and
resolved, if ever he should call me out again, to use whatever advantage
fortune might give me over him in another manner. In the meantime I had
leisure to take notice of Strap, who seemed quite stupified with horror:
I comforted him with an assurance, that I had received no damage, and
explained the nature of this affair as we walked homeward. By the time
I had got into my apartment, I found the wound in my neck stiff and
uneasy, and a good deal of clotted blood ran down upon my shirt; upon
which I pulled off my coat and waistcoat, and unbuttoned my collar, that
I might dress it with more ease. My friend no sooner perceived my
shirt quite dyed with blood, than, imagining I had got at least twenty
thousand wounds, he cried, "O Jesus!" and fell flat on the floor. I
stopped the bleeding with a little dry lint, and, applying a plaster
over it, cleaned myself from the gore, shifted, and dressed, while
he lay senseless at my feet, so that when he recovered, and saw me
perfectly well, he could scarce believe his own eyes. Now that the
danger was passed, I was very well pleased with what had happened,
hoping that it would soon become known,