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Show A BLOODY DUEL. 53 dressed in a dust-colored 'Raglan' coat, and impressed me at the time as though he was, as near as might be, following out his habit of bird hunting. " He mingled in the crowd, talking and chatting with his friends and acquaintances with as much apparent ease and composure as though the occasion was but a Christmas shooting match. Dr. Stone walked with his surgeon apart from the crowd, looking pale and highly wrought up. " I began to counsel peace and compromise, but no one seemed to think a peaceful settlement could be effected. Some told me I had better keep still, or I might get hurt. ' They had come there to see a fight, and a fight it must be.' So, thinking prudence the better part of valor, I concluded to remain and witness, for the first time in my life, a duel. " In about twenty minutes after the parties reached the place, the distance was measured off and guns loaded- one barrel each. The toss-up for the word was won by Stone's seconds. The belligerants were placed opposite, with left side presented each to the other, guns down in hand. The signal was-one-two-fire-stop. The firing was to be done on or between the words fire and stop. Either principal firing before the' word fire, or after the word stop, was, by the terms of the code, liable to be shot down by the seconds of his antagonist. "The principals being ready, the seconds in their respective positions, each armed with a Colt's navy revolver, cocked and in hand, the word was given in a loud clear tone. When in quick, but due time, Stone fired first, without raising his gun to his eye. Before the word stop was uttered Bliss fired and Stone fell to the ground with |
