lad
found himself covered.

"Now," said the young Frenchman to Chester, "will you fight or not?"

"I'll fight," replied the lad calmly.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE DUEL.

"It seems to me," said Hal quietly, "that there is enough fighting to be
done at the front without fighting among ourselves. Besides, we have
important business in Paris immediately."

"It won't take long to dispose of this fellow, Hal," said Chester
significantly.

"Perhaps not," replied Hal, "but you know there is always the chance that
you may fall. Then they would probably drag me into it, and, if I went
down, what would happen to the document we bear?"

"That's true," said Chester. He turned to his adversary. "Is it
understood," he asked, "that, if I fall, there is an end of the quarrel?"

The Frenchman bowed in assent.

"And if you kill me," he said, "my friends will not molest you."

"Well, that suits me," said Chester. "Where and when are we going to
fight this thing out?"

"Immediately," was the reply; "and, with our host's permission, we shall
fight right here, monsieur."

"Any place suits me," said Chester. "And the weapons?"

"The choice lies with you, _monsieur_."

"Very good," said Chester. "Revolvers at ten paces!"

"Ten paces!" exclaimed one of the Frenchmen, stepping back in surprise.
"Surely _monsieur_ is jesting!"

"Not a bit of it," replied Chester quietly. "I want to get close enough
to make sure I can't miss him."

"But, _monsieur_," protested one of the Frenchmen, "it will make it that
much easier for your opponent to hit you also."

"He won't hit me," said Chester. "Don't you worry about that. Revolvers
at ten paces, or there will be no fight."

The French officer who had volunteered to act as the other's
second bowed.

"It shall be as _monsieur_ desires," he said.

The revolvers of the others, which had covered Hal, were now lowered, and
the lad was allowed to pick up his weapons. He approached Chester.

"Are you sure you can get him?" he asked.

"Dead certain," replied Chester. "Look at him now. See how he's shaking.
It's the ten paces that did that. He knows I can't possibly miss him at
that distance, and he is consequently nervous for fear his first shot
may go wild."

There was truth in the lad's words. Chester's antagonist was plainly
nervous, and he and his second talked together in low tones. Finally the
second came over to Hal.

"My friend," he said, "wishing to spare your friend's life