208 A CHALLENGE. 



M'Leod, to the full as hot in temper as Pierre, ex- 

 claimed, 



" I do not wish to escape you in any way, or to have 

 you suppose I am afraid of anything you can do. If 

 you think I have said anything which needs satisfac- 

 tion, I am ready to back with my hand whatever I 

 have said." 



" And I am equally ready," cried Pierre. " To-mor- 

 row be it, then, at daybreak, in the beaver meadow 

 behind the fort. Our rifles will settle this dispute, 

 and may he who falls find mercy ! " 



These words Pierre pronounced calmly ; and leaving 

 his incensed rival still standing by the river, the hunter 

 returned to the fort. As he left the spot, his quick eye 

 caught sight of a woman's dress among the trees not 

 far from the place where the altercation had occurred ; 

 but in the excited frame of mind in which he was, 

 despite his outward calm, he bestowed no attention on 

 the circumstance. How vividly it was afterwards re- 

 called to his mind ! 



During the remainder of the day Pierre had a diffi- 

 cult part to perform, in the effort to appear gay and 

 unembarrassed in the society of his comrades, while 

 within, the recollection of his quarrel, together with the 

 uncertainty of the result of the impending duel, sufficed 

 to chill his spirits. 



He was deprived, too, of whatever of a counteracting 

 influence Miss Frazer's company might have afforded, 

 as that young lady was said to be confined to her room 



