eping me busy to parry his point and watch
his dagger at the same time. I was half-surprised at my own success in
turning away his blade, but after I had guarded myself from three or
four thrusts, I took to mind that offence is the best defence, and
ventured a lunge, which he stopped with his dagger only in the nick of
time to save his breast. His look of being almost caught gave me
encouragement, making me realize I had received good enough lessons from
my father and Blaise Tripault to enable me to practise with confidence.
So I pushed the attack, but never lost control of myself nor became
reckless. It was an inspiriting revelation to me to find that I could
indeed use my head intelligently, and command my motions so well, at a
time of such excitement. We grew hot, perspired, breathed fast and loud,
kept our muscles tense, and held each other with glittering eyes as we
moved about on firm but springy feet. We must have fought very swiftly,
for the ring of the steel sounded afterward in my ears as if it had been
almost continuous. How long we kept it up, I do not exactly know. We
came to panting more deeply, and I felt a little tired, and once or
twice a mist was before my eyes. At last he gave me a great start by
running his point through my shirt sleeve above the elbow. Feeling
myself so nearly stung, I instinctively made a long swift thrust: up
went his dagger, but too late: my blade passed clear of it, sank into
his left breast. He gave a sharp little cry, and fell, and the hole I
had made in his shirt was quickly circled with crimson.

"Victory!" thought I, with an exultant sense of prowess. I had fleshed
my sword and brought low my man! But, as I looked down at him and he lay
perfectly still, another feeling arose. I knelt and felt for his heart:
my new fear was realized. With bitter regret I gazed at him. All the
anger and scorn had gone out of his face: it was now merely the handsome
boyish face of a youth like myself, expressing only a manly pride and
the pain and surprise of his last moment. It was horrible to think that
I had stopped this life for ever, reduced this energy and beauty to
eternal silence and nothingness. A weakness overwhelmed me, a profound
pity and self-reproach.

I heard a low ejaculation behind me, which made me start. But I saw it
was only Nicolas, who, in spite of my orders, had stolen after me, in
terror of what might happen.

"Oh, heaven!" he groaned, as he stared with pale face and