LIFE IN THE FAB WEST. 43 



Preliminaries arranged, the combatants took up their 

 respective positions at either end of a space marked for 

 the purpose, at forty paces from each other. They were 

 both armed with heavy rifles, and had the usual hunting 

 pouches, containing ammunition, hanging over the shoul- 

 der. Standing with the butts of their rifles on the ground, 

 they confronted each other ; and the crowd, drawing away a 

 few paces only on each side, left one man to give the word. 

 This was the single word " fire ;" and after this signal was 

 given, the combatants were at liberty to fire away until one 

 or the other dropped. 



At the word, both the men quickly raised their rifles to 

 the shoulder ; and whilst the sharp cracks instantaneously 

 rang, they were seen to flinch, as either felt the pinging 

 sensation of a bullet entering his flesh. Regarding each 

 other steadily for a few moments, the blood running down 

 La Bonte's neck from a wound under the left jaw, whilst 

 his opponent was seen to place his hand once to his right 

 breast, as if to feel the position of his wound, they com- 

 menced reloading their rifles. But as Pete was in the act of 

 forcing down the ball with his long hickory wiping-stick, 

 he suddenly dropped his right arm the rifle slipped from 

 his grasp and, reeling for a moment like a drunken man, 

 he fell dead to the ground. 



Even here, however, there was law of some kind or 

 another ; and the consequences of the duel were, that the 

 constables were soon on the trail of La Bonte to arrest him. 

 He easily avoided them ; and, taking to the woods, lived 

 for several days in as wild a state as the beasts he hunted 

 and killed for his support. 



Tired of this, he at last resolved to quit the country and 

 betake himself to the mountains, for which life he had ever 

 felt an inclination. 



When, therefore, he thought the officers of justice had 

 grown slack in their search of him, and that the coast was 

 comparatively clear, he determined to start on his distant 

 expedition to the Far West. 



Once more, before he carried his project into execution, 

 he sought and obtained a last interview with Mary Brand. 



