down--if
possible, only to wing him; but, of course, a sense of my own danger
rendered this last of less than secondary importance. A single exchange
of shots would, no doubt decide the affair; and the advantage would fall
to him who was "quickest on the trigger." To obtain this advantage,
then, I watched with eager eye the behaviour of the birds. In like
manner was my antagonist, occupied.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

THE DUEL DELAYED.

Full five minutes passed, and not one of the vultures showed signs of
stirring--five minutes of prolonged and terrible suspense. It was odd
that the birds had not at once swooped down upon the piece of venison:
since it lay conspicuously upon the ground--almost under the tree where
they were perched! A score of them there were--ranged along the dead
limbs--each with an eye keen of sight as an eagle's! Beyond doubt, they
observed the object--they would have seen it a mile off, and recognised
it too--why, then, were they disregarding it--a circumstance so
contradictory of their natural instincts and habits, that, even in that
dread hour, I remarked its singularity? The cause might have been
simple enough: perhaps the birds had already glutted themselves
elsewhere? Some wild beast of the woods--more likely, some straying
ox--had fallen a victim to disease and the summer heats; and his carcase
had furnished them with their morning's meal? There was evidence of the
truth of this, in their blood-stained beaks and gorged maws, as also the
indolent attitudes in which they roosted--many of them apparently
asleep! Others at intervals stretched forth their necks, and half
spread their wings; but only to yawn and catch the cooling breeze. Not
one of all the listless flock, showed the slightest disposition to take
wing.

There were several already in the air, wheeling high aloft; and two or
three had just joined their companions--increasing the cluster upon the
tree. These had arrived, after we had taken our stand; and others were
constantly coming down. But the signal mutually agreed to was mutually
understood: it was the _departure_ of one of the birds--not its
_arrival_--that was to give the cue of _entree_ to the tragic act--the
signal for the scene of death.

Those five minutes to me appeared fifty--ah! far more than that: for,
brief as was the actual time, a world of thoughts passed through my mind
during its continuance. The past and future were alike considered. The
memo