OR THE DUELLIST 543 



what nature this was to be. Without seeming to notice the cheat, I 

 turned the ruse against himself, by giving him, with dissembled care- 

 lessness, his dollar, and requesting him to toss it ; he bit his lips with 

 concealed passion, but could not refuse ; I called te head !" and of 

 course won. The growl of D'Egville, and his look of gloomy de- 

 spair, confirmed my suspicions, and convinced me that he was privy 

 to the plan, whatever it was, of his second. The handkerchief was 

 held by the parties across the grave, and the pistols were placed in 

 their hands. 



" Gentlemen, are you ready ? " "Yes ! " was their reply in low 



deep voices. I cast a look at the parties, Stewart's looks were calm 

 and firm ; D'Egville's eyes gleamed wildly; his teeth were clenched, 

 and he held his breath as if he mechanically tried to screw his " cou- 

 rage to the sticking pitch." A tremulous emotion was however visi- 

 ble on his lips, which increased. I paused, and his agitation became 

 greater, I resolved not to give the fatal signal for a few moments. 

 I still paused : it was as I hoped : the whole of the Haytian's fea- 

 tures became distorted, his teeth now chattered, at first the hand- 

 kerchief, and the pistol dropped from his paralyzed hand his knees 

 shook, his legs refused to support him ; he reeled and fell into the 

 grave ! 



There he lay on the ground, having the appearance of one attacked 

 at once by palsy and ague. Stewart sprang across the grave : but 

 seeing the humiliating position of his enemy, threw down his pis- 

 tol, and with an attitude, tone, and manner, that I never saw sur- 

 passed for dignity exclaimed, "Poor fallen wretch ! you are too much 

 an object of pity to excite wrath." 



He was indeed a fallen wretch ! fallen as Satan, but how unlike 

 the dauntless " fiend that Milton drew." Henry D'Egville, the 

 dreaded duellist, the slayer of twenty men, who delighted in the 

 prospect of a mortal combat more than a miser joyed at gaining a 

 treasure, lay on the earth which his presence had too long polluted 

 its vilest and most despised creature, shuddering like a falcon that 

 I have seen within the reach of a serpent, while the terror-struck bird 

 had neither the power of defence or flight. His acquaintance (friends 

 this man had not ) declared that his paroxysm of panic was occa- 

 sioned by a long course of ill-health and debauchery whether it 

 was entirely correct I am unable to say. I hurried Stewart to his 

 boat, which was some three hundred yards off, and we embarked, 

 leaving the prostrated D'Egville to the care of hi& friend. 



Two of the boat's crew had been ( concealed from our view ) spec- 

 tators to the whole of the transaction. So that when we got on board, 

 they related all that had taken place. The Planter's crew, who adored 

 their captain, received Stewart with the most heartfelt joy I ever saw. 

 In spite of his remonstrances, they carried him round the decks on 

 their shoulders, huzzaing like madmen. The news of the event spread 

 through a whole convoy of merchantmen in the harbour. The crews 

 of each vessel gave us three cheers, which was rep'ied to by the 

 Planter's. 



