CHAPTER V
SIR SQUIRE OF TORY DAMES
"Well, Sir Squire of Tory Dames, did she smile on you?" The voice washarsh and rasping; looking across the table, I saw the sneer upon hislips. I had but entered a moment before the dining-room of the inn,after my long ride, and was about to take my seat, when Rodolph'ssneering question made me pause.
"That is more than you could ever win, my Mighty Lord from Nowhere," Iretorted. At this there was a laugh from those about. An angry flushshowed through even his dark and swarthy skin; for, being a burlybully of the border, he liked not being bearded thus by a youth.
"You damned impudent puppy!" he cried, rising.
But there stood a glass at my right hand, full to the brim, and ere hecould say another word the red wine flew across the table straightinto his face.
"Take that!" I cried, "with the compliments of James Frisby ofFairlee!"
A dozen men were now around us, and Rodolph, spluttering through thewine and swearing many oaths, demanded to be released from the handsupon his shoulders, shouting that he would shoot me like a dog.
"It will give me pleasure to let you have an opportunity," I repliedcoolly. "It will be a rare chance for you to become a gentleman."
And so, still muttering and swearing, his friends took him from theroom, while I took my seat at the table. But I was not allowed to eatmy meal in peace; for many gentlemen came to offer their services andto thank me. Rodolph's overbearing manners had long been unpopularamong them, and the wonder was that he had not been forced to fightbefore. But I was determined that Dick should be my second, and so,thanking them all for their kind offers, I placed my hand on Dick'sshoulder, and we went out together amid a volley of advice andfriendly warning.
Half an hour later, as I was examining my sword and Dick his pistols,there came a rap on my door, and two gentlemen entered; one wasCaptain Brooke, the other Lieutenant Barry of the Line.
"Lieutenant Frisby," said Captain Brooke, as he advanced and bowed,"it is my painful duty to deliver you this challenge."
"It is a pleasure to receive it from your hands," I replied,returning his courtesy. "Lieutenant Ringgold and Harry Gresham of Kentwill act as my seconds, permit me to refer you to them."
Dick now went out with them to Harry Gresham's room near by, wherethey would be safe from interruption, Gresham having volunteered withDick to be one of my seconds, and I went on polishing my sword,waiting for the issue. At last Dick came back.
"Well," he cried, "it is all settled. You are to fight to-morrowmorning at sunrise down in the little meadow below the creek."
"Swords, I suppose?"
"No; pistols. I insisted on swords at first, it being our privilege;but Captain Brooke said that Rodolph had broken his arm the yearbefore, and that it was still too weak to fight with. So I waived theswords and agreed to the pistols."
"It is not quite as gentlemanly a weapon, but just as deadly. I haveput a bullet through the head of a wild duck flying, and I think I canhit Phil Rodolph."
"That you can," said Dick.
It was a bright, clear morning as we slipped out of the inn on our wayto the little meadow. The eastern sky was already tinged with crimson,and the blood-red lances across the heavens told of the coming dawn.The air was fresh and cool as it blew up the river from the bay, andour lungs drew in great draughts of it as we felt the breeze in ourfaces.
"A splendid morning to die on," said Harry Gresham.
"And to live on, too," I replied.
"Stop your croaking, Gresham," put in Dick Ringgold. We walked onsilently to the meadow, where we found that we were the first toarrive.
Though I have stood on many a field of honour since that day, though Ihave felt the bullet tearing and burning its way through the flesh,and the sudden, sharp pain of the sword thrust, I shall never forgetthat encounter on the meadow beside the Elk, when I first faced themuzzle of a hostile pistol, and knew that the will behind it sought mylife.
It was not fear that I felt as I stood there, waiting for the comingof my adversary, for fear has always been foreign to my family, but asort of secret elation. For that day, if I survived, though the downupon my lip was as yet imperceptible, I could take my place as a manamong men. No longer would my boyish face keep me out of the councilsof my elders, but I would have the right to take my stand and ruffleit with the best of them all. I was there to win my spurs as a manand a duellist, and to show to all the world that I had the courage ofmy race. For then, as it has ever been in the fair province ofMaryland, we love above all else courage in a man; and so it was Iwaited with impatience Rodolph's approach, for it meant the castingoff of the boy and the making of the man.
We did not have long to wait, for Rodolph and his seconds soonfollowed us down the path, and each party saluted. Then Captain Brookeand Dick Ringgold measured off the paces, and threw for the choice ofpositions. Dick won, and I found myself standing near a small sapling,with my back to the rising sun, which as yet had not climbed over thetree tops, and so did not interfere with Rodolph's position. Facingme, twelve paces away, stood Rodolph, his dark, swarthy face darker,more Indian-like, and forbidding than ever; behind him stretched awaythe small glade, and the smooth green waters of the river, as theywound their way between the tall forests on either side. I rememberwatching a wild duck as he went swiftly flying down the Elk, when DickRinggold's "Are you ready?" suddenly recalled me to my position."Yes," I nodded. Then came the even counting, "One, two;" but ere"two" had been uttered, I saw the flash of Rodolph's pistol, and feltthe sharp pain of the bullet tearing its way into my side. While I,taken by surprise at such rank treachery, fired not so accurately asusual, and my bullet clipped his ear. Dick's sword was out in aninstant, and I verily believe he would have run Rodolph through on thespot, as it was his duty and right to do, so base was the crime offiring before the time--a thing that had never been known amongMaryland gentlemen before. But seeing me reel, he came to myassistance, and threw his arm around me.
"Tie me to the sapling, Dick," said I, "and give me one more shot."
"But no gentleman should fight with such a scoundrel!" cried Dickhotly.
"I waive that, just one more shot."
So, with Harry Gresham's assistance, they took Dick's sash and tied meto the sapling, and in this way enabled me to keep an uprightposition. Captain Brooke had come forward to inquire as to my injury,but Dick met him and demanded another exchange of shots. "Myprincipal," he said, "waives the treachery that places your principalbeyond the pale of men of honour. But," continued Dick, "if he shoulddare to fire again before the time, I will shoot him down where hestands."
Captain Brooke flushed, and though we saw that it was painful to himas a man of honour to be the second of such a principal, he could donothing but accept. "I will shoot him down myself," said he, "if hedares again to do it."
He then returned to his party, and we saw by his angry gestures thathe was warning Rodolph of the penalty if he should a second timetransgress the rules of honour.
Again we faced, and I could feel the strength ebbing fast from me, butI could see that Rodolph's face was pale, even through his swarthyskin. "One, two, three, Fire," came again the fateful words; but I hadnerved myself for the final effort, and glancing down the polishedbarrel, I fired, at the same moment that Rodolph's pistol rang out.
For a moment I saw him standing there, and then he lurched forward,with his arms in the air, and fell face downward as the mortallywounded do. With that there came a mist before my eyes, my hand fellto my side, and I remembered nothing more. They told me afterward thatthey carried me to the inn in the village, Captain Brooke assisting,after they had seen that Rodolph was dead. "Leave him there forawhile," said the Captain, as he came to assist Dick in my removal."The dog had a better death than he deserved."