, dear
Henry?" He looked at his brother with a smile; then made a fencing-room
salute.

Never a word said Mr. Henry, but saluted too, and the swords rang
together.

I am no judge of the play; my head, besides, was gone with cold and
fear and horror; but it seems that Mr. Henry took and kept the upper
hand from the engagement, crowding in upon his foe with a contained and
glowing fury. Nearer and nearer he crept upon the man, till of a sudden
the Master leaped back with a little sobbing oath; and I believe the
movement brought the light once more against his eyes. To it they went
again, on the fresh ground; but now methought closer, Mr. Henry pressing
more outrageously, the Master beyond doubt with shaken confidence. For
it is beyond doubt he now recognised himself for lost, and had some
taste of the cold agony of fear; or he had never attempted the foul
stroke. I cannot say I followed it, my untrained eye was never quick
enough to seize details, but it appears he caught his brother's blade
with his left hand, a practice not permitted. Certainly Mr. Henry only
saved himself by leaping on one side; as certainly the Master, lungeing
in the air, stumbled on his knee, and before he could move, the sword
was through his body.

I cried out with a stifled scream, and ran in; but the body was already
fallen to the ground, where it writhed a moment like a trodden worm, and
then lay motionless.

"Look at his left hand," said Mr. Henry.

"It is all bloody," said I.

"On the inside?" said he.

"It is cut on the inside," said I.

"I thought so," said he, and turned his back.

I opened the man's clothes; the heart was quite still, it gave not a
flutter.

"God forgive us, Mr. Henry!" said I. "He is dead."

"Dead?" he repeated, a little stupidly; and then, with a rising tone,
"Dead? dead?" says he, and suddenly cast his bloody sword upon the
ground.

"What must we do?" said I. "Be yourself, sir. It is too late now: you
must be yourself."

He turned and stared at me. "O, Mackellar!" says he, and put his face in
his hands.

I plucked him by the coat. "For God's sake, for all our sakes, be more
courageous!" said I. "What must we do?"

He showed me his face with the same stupid stare. "Do?" says he. And
with that his eye fell on the body, and "O!" he cries out, with his hand
to his brow, as if he had never remembered; and, turning from me, made
off towards the house of Durrisdeer at a strange stumbling run.

I stood