, and then backward; now we
were too far away, again we were too near, and there didn't appear to
be any prospect of a settlement.

At last O'Halloran suggested that we should back the sleighs toward one
another till they touched, and then his sleigh would move forward
twelve paces.

"But who's to pace them?" asked Jack.

"Why the horse, of course," said O'Halloran. "Sure it's a regular pacer
he is, and bred up to it, so he is."

To this Jack had nothing to say.

So the horses backed and the sleighs touched one another.

"Wait a minute McGinty, me boy," said O'Halloran--putting his hand on
his friend's arm--"let's all take somethin' warrum. Me system is slowly
conjaylin, an' such a steete of things is moighty onwholeaome."

This proposition was received with the same unanimity which had greeted
O'Halloran's other propositions. Flasks were brought out; and some
minutes were passed in a general, a couvivial, and a very affectionate
interchange of courtesies.

"Me boy," said O'Halloran to me, affectionately, "ye haven't had so
much ixpayrieence as I have, so I'll teek the liberty to give ye a
small bit of instherruction. Whin ye foire, eem low! Moind that, now
--ye'll be sure to hit."

"Thank you," said I.

He wrung my hand heartily; and then motioning to McGinty, his sleigh
started off, and advanced a few paces from ours, a little farther than
the usual distance on such an occasion. With this he seemed to be
satisfied, and, as nobody made any objection, we prepared for the
business of the day.

O'Halloran and I stood up in the sleighs, while the seconds kept their
seats. Jack and the doctor sat in the front seat of our sleigh. McGinty
sat beside O'Halloran as he stood up. I stood in the after-seat of our
sleigh.

"Shall I give the word?" said Jack.

"No," said McGinty. "I've had more exparience. I've been sicond at
elivin jools--an' hope to assist an as minny more."

"Shure we won't throuble ayiher of ye," said O'Halloran. "It's me
that's fought more jools than you've been sicond at. Me friend Macrorie
and I'll manage it to shoot oursilves--so we will."

"Ye can't give the word yersilves," said McGinty.

"An' what do we want of a word, thin?" said O'Halloran.

"To foire by," said McGinty.

"There's a peculeeareetee," said O'Halloran, loftily, "in the prisint
occeesion that obveeates the nicissitee of such prosaydings, and
inables us to dispinse with any worrd of command. Macrorie, me boy
--frind o