按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the chance of a single antagonist； he was disappointed； for
although his unexpected attitude had produced some effect among the
group； and even attracted the attention of the men at the windows；
Harrison strode deliberately towards him。
〃That kin wait；〃 he said； 〃jest now we propose to take you and your
letters and drop 'em and you outer this yer township of Injin
Springs。 You kin take 'em back to the woman or critter you got 'em
of。 But we kalkilate you're a little too handy and free in them
sorter things to teach school round yer； and we kinder allow we
don't keer to hev our gals and boys eddicated up to your high…toned
standard。 So ef you choose to kem along easy we'll mak' you
comf'ble on a hoss we've got waitin' outside； an' escort you across
the line。 Ef you don'twe'll take you anyway。〃
The master cast a rapid glance around him。 In his quickness of
perception he had already noted that the led horse among the
cavalcade was fastened by a lariat to one of the riders so that
escape by flight was impossible； and that he had not a single
weapon to defend himself with or even provoke； in his desperation；
the struggle that could forestall ignominy by death。 Nothing was
left him but his voice； clear and trenchant as he faced them。
〃You are twelve to one；〃 he said calmly； 〃but if there is a single
man among you who dare step forward and accuse me of what you only
TOGETHER dare do； I will tell him he is a liar and a coward； and
stand here ready to make it good against him。 You come here as
judge and jury condemning me without trial； and confronting me with
no accusers； you come here as lawless avengers of your honor； and
you dare not give ME the privilege of as lawlessly defending my
own。〃
There was another slight murmur among the men； but the leader moved
impatiently forward。 〃We've had enough o' your preachin'： we want
YOU；〃 he said roughly。 〃Come。〃
〃Stop；〃 said a dull voice。
It came from a mute figure which had remained motionless among the
others。 Every eye was turned upon it as it rose and lazily pushed
the cloth from its face。
〃Hiram McKinstry！〃 said the others in mingled tones of astonishment
and suspicion。
〃That's me！〃 said McKinstry； coming forward with heavy deliberation。
〃I joined this yer delegation at the crossroads instead o' my
brother； who had the call。 I reckon et's all the sameor mebbe
better。 For I perpose to take this yer gentleman off your hands。〃
He lifted his slumbrous eyes for the first time to the master； and
at the same time put himself between him and Harrison。 〃I
perpose；〃 he continued； 〃to take him at his word； I perpose ter
give him a chance to answer with a gun。 And ez I reckon； by all
accounts； there's no man yer ez hez a better right than ME； I
perpose to be the man to put that question to him in the same way。
Et may not suit some gents；〃 he continued slowly； facing an angry
exclamation from the lank figure behind him； 〃ez would prefer to
hev eleven men to take up THEIR private quo'lls； but even then I
reckon that the man who is the most injured hez the right to the
first say and that man's ME。〃
With a careful deliberation that had a double significance to the
malcontents； he handed his own rifle to the master and without
looking at him continued： 〃I reckon； sir； you've seen that afore；
but ef it ain't quite to your hand； any of those gents； I
kalkilate； will be high…toned enuff to giv you the chyce o' theirs。
And there's no need o' trapsin' beyon' the township lines； to fix
this yer affair； I perpose to do it in ten minutes in the brush
yonder。〃
Whatever might have been the feelings and intentions of the men
around him； the precedence of McKinstry's right to the duello was a
principle too deeply rooted in their traditions to deny； if any
resistance to it had been contemplated by some of them； the fact
that the master was now armed； and that Mr。 McKinstry would quickly
do battle at his side with a revolver in defence of his rights；
checked any expression。 They silently drew back as the master and
McKinstry slowly passed out of the school…house together； and then
followed in their rear。 In that interval the master turned to
McKinstry and said in a low voice： 〃I accept your challenge and
thank you for it。 You have never done me a greater kindness
whatever I have done to YOUyet I want you to believe that neither
now nor THENI meant you any harm。〃
〃Ef you mean by that； sir； that ye reckon ye won't return my fire；
ye're blind and wrong。 For it will do you no good with them；〃 he
said with a significant wave of his crippled hand towards the
following crowd； 〃nor me neither。〃
Firmly resolved； however； that he would not fire at McKinstry； and
clinging blindly to this which he believed was the last idea of his
foolish life； he continued on without another word until they
reached the open strip of chemisal that flanked the clearing。
The rude preliminaries were soon settled。 The parties armed with
rifles were to fire at the word from a distance of eighty yards；
and then approach each other； continuing the fight with revolvers
until one or the other fell。 The selection of seconds was effected
by the elder Harrison acting for McKinstry； and after a moment's
delay by the volunteering of the long； lank figure previously noted
to act for the master。 Preoccupied by other thoughts； Mr。 Ford
paid little heed to his self…elected supporter； who to the others
seemed to be only taking that method of showing his contempt for
McKinstry's recent insult。 The master received the rifle
mechanically from his hand and walked to position。 He noticed；
however； and remembered afterwards that his second was half hidden
by the trunk of a large pine to his right that marked the limit of
the ground。
In that supreme moment it must be recorded； albeit against all
preconceived theory； that he did NOT review his past life； was NOT
illuminated by a flash of remorseful or sentimental memory； and did
NOT commend his soul to his Maker； but that he was simply and
keenly alive to the very actual present in which he still existed
and to his one idea of not firing at his adversary。 And if
anything could render his conduct more theoretically incorrect it
was a certain exalted sense that he was doing quite right and was
not only NOT a bad sort of fellow； but one whom his survivors might
possibly regret！
〃Are you ready； gentlemen？ Onetwothreefi 。 。 。 ！〃
The explosions were singularly simultaneousso remarkable in fact
that it seemed to the master that his rifle； fired in the air； had
given a DOUBLE report。 A light wreath of smoke lay between him and
his opponent。 He was unhurtso evidently was his adversary； for
the voice rose again。
〃Advance！ 。 。 。 Hallo there！ Stop！〃
He looked up quickly to see McKinstry stagger and then fall heavily
to the ground。
With an exclamation of horror； the first and only terrible emotio