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.
Pages:
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287