100 THE DUEL. 



firing until they received the preconcerted signal; 

 but as the crowd cleared away, Boyle, with a 

 haughty, malicious scowl on his face, spoke to his 

 antagonist, 



' " You still do not remember me. Well, you 

 cannot forget Harry Clifton, whom you swindled 

 first and afterwards shot at St, Mary's. He was 

 my pal. I am the person who hunted you to the 

 coast. You know what you have to expect. I'm 

 going to kill you if I can ; while there ; s a bullet 

 in my six-shooter, I '11 aim it at your heart." 



' With such nonchalance did many of the spec- 

 tators regard the coming prospect of bloodshed, 

 that betting on the result took place, the odds 

 being generally in favour of the last speaker. 



' Time was almost up, and each man, cool and 

 collected, surveyed his opponent. Vindictive hatred 

 was clearly stamped on their features, and they 

 were even impatient at the delay necessary to clear 

 the lookers-on out of the line of fire. At length 

 the preconcerted signal was given, and simul- 

 taneously each of the duellists' pistols exploded. 

 Boyle staggered with the report, while the hat of his 

 antagonist moved several inches further back on his 

 head. Willingly would I have gone to the former's 

 assistance, but I was restrained by the information 

 that they must have it out, and by threats that 

 somebody would drill daylight in any person's car- 

 cass that interfered before their six-shooters were 

 empty. 



