The Highland monthly - National Library of Scotland

-.2cS The HigJiland Monthly
"'There must not be a public scandal here,' he said
firmly, ' you two must fight it out on the quiet.'
"'A duel —agreed,' was the unanimous response, and
with ill grace I acquiesced.
' And so it was arranged that we should have an
encounter a week hence. You see, none of the fellows
would forego the pleasure of seeing the quarrel out, and
Friday was the only day upon which they could all muster,
" Of course I had the choice of weapons ;
and
as I had
been assaulted as well as insulted without any apparent
rhyme or reason, I insisted upon the condition that the
weapons I selected should not be named till the principals
met. Walsh's second—who lived near by our farm—con-
ceded this with a grudge ; but he knew that Walsh was a
good revolver shot, and I took pains not to upset his
calculations. From his residence, this fellow, called Smithson
if I remember correctly, could hear the crack of my
pistol as I practised each day, and the fact was duly con-
ve\ed to Walsh. What he did not ascertain was that I
also took very private lessons in the art of boxing, a manly
form of self-defence and chastisement for which I had
rather a hankering.
" Well, the eventful morning arrived—how well I
remember it ; a bright October da}', with the night frosts
rapidly disappearing under the rising sun. There we were,
in the very glade which witnessed Walsh's ignominious
love-making—a spot to which, by the bye, he vigorously
objected, but to which I stuck inexorably. I was
determined, you see, that it should witness his second
humiliation. Not a soul more were present than those
who were cognisant of the quarrel as it happened, except
my antagonist's second, and a young doctor he had
thoughtfully provided for his client. On our side, we had
it all arranged beautifully.
"'The principals will take up their positions,' Jamie
said with ;ruch gravity.
"' What distance apart ?' asked the other.