ke it willingly. However, I overheard the
altercation between Lord Sackville and Major Drummond, and the same
night he asked me to act for him, when the time for it came. I
consented, and cannot draw back from the undertaking; but I need
hardly say that, after what happened at Minden, no English officer,
unless previously pledged, would have consented to act for him. I
suppose, sir, there is no use in asking whether the matter cannot
be arranged."

"Not in the slightest. Major Drummond told me that he had expressed
his willingness to meet the general, and he is certainly not one to
withdraw from his word. My friend chooses swords. In fact the use
of pistols, on such occasions, is quite unknown in the Continental
army."

"As Lord Sackville leaves tomorrow morning, we should be glad if
you would name an early hour."

"As early as you like. It is light at half-past four."

"Then shall we say five o'clock?"

"Certainly."

"And the place?"

"There is a small clump of trees on the heath, two miles west of
our camp."

"We will be there at that time, sir. Would you object to each side
being accompanied by a second friend? I ask it because, did
anything happen to my principal, I should certainly wish that
another witness was present at the duel."

"We have no objection," Major Kurstad said. "We shall also bring a
surgeon with us, and of course you can do the same, if you are
disposed."

The two officers saluted, and the major returned to Fergus.

"Do you mean to kill him?" he asked, after he had told him of the
arrangements that had been made.

"Certainly not. The man is an overbearing fool, and I merely wish
to give him a lesson. Personally, I should be glad if the whole of
the officers of the British force could be present, in order that
he might be as much humiliated as possible; but even if I hated the
man--and I have no shadow of feeling of that kind--I would not kill
him. He is going home to England to be tried by court martial, and
its sentence is likely to be a far heavier blow, to a bully of that
kind, than death would be. He has a taste of it already, for I hear
that he is hooted whenever he leaves his tent."

At the appointed time the two parties arrived, almost at the same
moment, at a spot arranged. Fergus was accompanied by Major Kurstad
and another officer of the duke's staff, and by the duke's own
surgeon. Formal salutations were exchanged between the seconds. The
duelling swords were examined