y else kills that
young gentleman, then, Major, you see that you will not wash off your
disgrace. You must coax out that gentleman into the field; if you can't
kill him with a carbine, you may with a sword. Old Suvorov used to say,
'Rifles are trifles, but hand arms are grand arms.' Go out into the field,
Major, for he is shooting at us; look, he is aiming now."

"Rykov, my dear friend," replied the Major, "you are a fine boy with a
sword; go out yourself, brother Rykov--or, I tell you what, we will send
one of our lieutenants. I, the Major, I cannot desert the soldiers; to me
belongs the command of the battalion."

Rykov, hearing this, lifted his sword and went out boldly; he ordered the
firing to cease and waved a white handkerchief. He asked Thaddeus what
weapon he preferred; after discussion, they agreed on swords. Thaddeus had
no weapon; while they were looking for swords, the Count rushed out armed
and interrupted the negotiations.

"Pan Soplica," he shouted. "begging your pardon, you challenged the Major!
I have a grudge of longer standing against the Captain; he has broken into
my castle"--"Please say _our_ castle," interrupted Protazy--"at the head of
a band of robbers," the Count concluded. "He--I recognised Rykov--tied up my
jockeys; I will punish him as I punished the brigands beneath the crag
that the Sicilians call Birbante-Rocca."

All became silent, and the firing ceased; the armies gazed eagerly at the
meeting of their leaders. The Count and Rykov advanced, standing sidewise,
threatening each other with the right hand and the right eye; then with
their left hands they uncovered their heads and bowed courteously--it is
the custom of men of honour, before proceeding to murder, first to
exchange greetings. Their swords were already crossed and had begun to
clash. The knights, each lifting one foot, bent their right knees, and
jumped forward and back by turns.

But Plut, seeing Thaddeus in front of his line, had a quiet consultation
with Corporal Gont, who passed for the best shot in the company.

"Gont," said the Major, "you see that rascal there; if you will put a
bullet into him right under the fifth rib I'll give you four silver
rubles."

Gont cocked his carbine and bent over the lock; his faithful comrades
sheltered him with their cloaks. He aimed, not at the rib, but at the head
of Thaddeus; he shot and hit the centre of his hat, close to his mark.
Thaddeus whirled about, then Sprinkler rushed