f me sowl--I addhriss you as the Oirish addhrissed the English
at Fontenoy: '_Fire first!_'"

And saying this, O'Halloran bowed and then stood erect, facing me with
a grave countenance.

"Fire first?" said I "Indeed, Mr. O'Halloran, I'll do nothing of the
kind."

"Indade and you shall," said he, with a laugh. "I insist upon it!"

"Well, if it comes to that," said I, "what's to prevent me from
insisting that you shall fire the first shot?"

"Shure and ye wouldn't dayproive me of the plisure of giving you the
prasaydince," said he.

"Then, really," said I, "you will force me to insist upon your having
the precedence. You're an older man than I am, and ought to have the
first place. So, Mr. O'Halloran--fire first!"

"Thank you," said he, with a bow, "but really, me boy, you must excuse
me if I insist upon it."

"Oh, no," said I. "If it were any other occasion, I would cheerfully
give you the precedence, and so I give it to you here."

"But, you see," said O'Halloran, "you must considher me in the loight
of an intertainer. Ye're my guest to a certain ixtint. I must give up
all the honors to you. So foire awee, me boy, and eem low."

"No," said I, "I really couldn't think of it."

This friendly altercation went on for some time, while the others sat
listening in amazement.

McGinty was the first to interrupt.

"It's in defoiuce of all the joolin code," said he, starting up. "I
must inter my protest."

"So say I," cried Jack. "I say let the usual word be given--or else if
one must have the first shot, let them draw for it."

O'Halloran looked upon them both with a smile of benevolent pity.

"McGinty," said he.

"Well."

"Ye know me?"

"Sure an' I do."

"And how many jools I've fought?"

"Meself does."

"Am I a choild at it? Will ye be koind enough to mintion any one that
has any cleem to considher himself the shupayrior of Phaylim O'Halloran
in the noiceties and the dilicacies of the jooling code? Will ye be so
good as to infarrum me what there is lift for me to lerrun?"

At this appeal Mr. Murtagh McGinty subsided into silence, and sat down
again, shaking his head.

Jack still insisted that the word of command should be given; but
O'Halloran silenced him effectually by asking him if he had ever fought
a duel.

"No," said Jack.

"Have ye ivir been second at one before?"

"No," said Jack, again.

"So this is your first time out?"

"Yes," said Jack, who looked deeply humiliated.

"Will