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Show 146 ROEBUCK. "A11 right. De qnick." "I'll hrin0· n1y pisto~s. I always carry a be:tntifnl p:1il'." "Very 1ve1 .1. We'll choo. e between yours antl mine." \Vhen Bul1itt made known the nn .. ange~l~nt to Palmer, the ln.tter " r[Ls fluLtcrecl by t:le prcctp1L~11:cy of action, an<l objected to the -part as. tgnec1 to Bu1btt, n, ncntrnlizing hi scconcl. On that grouncl he w:t~ 1· 11C ll'l 1C<.1 to l>l·ennl\,.. 0 .L('(!l "q le affi<t il· • Bnt I3nllitt <l cclare• cl that it conld not be broken off 'vit.hont everlasting .dls-grace. It 1nlt. t go on, even in this it~regular fa. ~uon. Being thus pre:, eel, and having nc1ther expenence nor counsellor to gnicle hirn to a loop-hole of retreat, Palrn r ceasccl to object. vVhen the pi.::;tols ha.<.l been procm·eL1, he 1val ke<.l to the appointed fiel(l, eticorterl l>y hi · econ<l-or hal C-secon<l-ancl attenc~cc1 by ])oct or Frank, \\rith a very ab.nning case of 111 tnunent~ under his nnn. \Vhen they reached the ground Baxter 1\-'as th ere, lying asleep on the grn.s.. J\fter " raking him ' Bu11itt scl , te<l t.hc pi!:ltols, cho:e the grounc,. l n.ud mcnsnre<.l the diP.tunce. \Vith n. c.Olni<'al air OL per-p1exity he tosscu np 1vith himself for the ci1o.ice. of position, and :nrn.ngc<l 'vith hirnsclf all the prc1unmaries in the 1nost fonnal 1nanner. lie 'v<Ls repc3teclly e1nbarras .. cd by hi neutral or equivocal relation .to the parties. After placing thcn1 in position, n.ncl g1vi! 1g thern their w·capons, he panseu and gravely ncld rcsscd th01n. "GGntl~mc n , I 1nnst now forrnnlly protest 1n presence or yon b lh, a. I have proLc~Lcd to yon severally, that tflC 1node of proceeding n.uoptccl on this occasion is entirely il-regn1ar. I have acccclecl to it only fro1n nece::>sity. I ,vill not he resp01wiblc for the con- ROEllUCK. 147 sequences, and I prote:t that this case shall never be drawn into prcc dent with n1y consent." \Yhen he gave the ·word, the orub:ttan t s fired almost. i1nnltancou. ly. They both rCinainecl standin" after the exchan~e of shots. Bul1itt, looking first ~~ one, and then n.t the o.ther, fro1u his post, which was equi-distant frotn them, 'va~ again pcrpJ excel. lie deemcJ it his dnty to approach hi. princi nal bn t which prineipal firl'3t? One rea on c:unc into Jli ,'head for rcn~lcriug his fir t attention to Palmer, hut :1nothcr rea. on immediately clainv•d that preference for Baxter. lie Btartc<.L towan1s the latter, but halt eel and turne<l townnls the for n1er. After one or two 1noro snch zigzagR, he thre"r up hi~ hands in despair, and darted at Baxter. "Arc yon hurt, Captain Baxter?" he cried. "No," s:tid BaxLcr, quietly, "n it.hcr of us is hurt. I raised the tlnst fro1n his pantB, but n1y ball struck the ground ten feet beyond hi1n. IIiB ball struck that weed about n. yard fron1 n1e. I ~aw it sh:1ke." Bullitt went to Pahncr, 1v-ho, though not very courageou , had pride enough to carry hin1 thus iar throngh the scene 1vith a fair show of firmness. !.l aving a.·ccrtaincd tltat he wa not hurt' the inlJ>ar-tutl seeond ret irc<l a few pace ' to con ult with him-self as to the proper step for hirn next to take. \Vhile l1c pondered, he 'vas reloading the 'vcapons. Snddcnly he 'va~ 'tartlecl by a cry fron1 Paln1cr-" n. con~ tnble, a const:1.ble." Repeating these wonls, Palmer started fr01n his post., 1vn.lking rapi<lly. "SLO})," Haid Bn1litt, "there is no con:tab]e about here!" 13ut Palmer quickened his pace to a run, \Vhilc the second shouted after hitn frantically-" stop, con1e baek, fool, coward, poltroon, co1ne back, I say.'' But f3tster and |