rs of imprisonment and suspense, he might be finally
acquitted, or--sent to the State prison.

"Then, on the other hand, by the chances of war, you might, instead of
being killed yourself, have killed your adversary, in which contingency,
Leonidas, your fate would have been far worse. You, Le, would have been
arrested for murder, and would have been thrown into prison without bail.
The same tedious imprisonment and repeated trials would have been your
fate; you might have escaped the worst verdict, but you would certainly
have been convicted of manslaughter and sent to the State prison, for you
were the challenger, which was an aggravation of the offense.

"But I will dwell no longer on the probable consequences of your meditated
deed. You were, no doubt, prepared to meet all the contingencies, to bear
all the penalties. I will drop that part of the subject, and only revert
to the first great argument against dueling--its flagrant disregard and
defiance of the laws of God and man.

"And now, Leonidas Force, I shall require you to give bonds to the amount
of ten thousand dollars to keep the peace."

"Will you receive my own for that sum, sir?" inquired the young man.

"Certainly," said the squire. And then, turning to the second offender, he
said:

"Mr. Roland Bayard, I shall require you to give bonds for one thousand
dollars to keep the peace."

"The Lord only knows where I am to pick up that sum. I reckon you'll have
to send me to prison in default of bail, squire."

"No, you needn't, squire. I'm assessed for fourteen thousand dollars, and
so I reckon you may take me as his bail for one thousand, mayn't you?"
inquired Miss Sibby, rising from her chair and leaning over the table.

"Certainly," replied Mr. Force.

The good magistrate had so little call to exercise his office in his
peaceful neighborhood that he never required the services of a clerk, and
did not possess one. He quickly drew up the necessary papers, had them
signed and sealed, locked them in his desk, and discharged the prisoners
in a very unmagisterial manner.

"And now, my young friends, let us forget this unpleasant scene, while you
both stay and dine with us."

And they stayed.

CHAPTER XXXV

YOUNG DR. INGLE'S NEWS

"Go, now, young gentlemen, into Mrs. Force's sitting room, and pay your
respects to the ladies there. They know nothing whatever of the affair
that brought you here to-day; nor do I wish them to know it. You are o