CHAPTER XIX.
THE DUEL.
"It seems to me," said Hal quietly, "that there is enough fighting to be done at the front without fighting among ourselves. Besides, we have important business in Paris immediately."
"It won't take long to dispose of this fellow, Hal," said Chester significantly.
"Perhaps not," replied Hal, "but you know there is always the chance that you may fall. Then they would probably drag me into it, and, if I went down, what would happen to the document we bear?"
"That's true," said Chester. He turned to his adversary. "Is it understood," he asked, "that, if I fall, there is an end of the quarrel?"
The Frenchman bowed in assent.
"And if you kill me," he said, "my friends will not molest you."
"Well, that suits me," said Chester. "Where and when are we going to fight this thing out?"
"Immediately," was the reply; "and, with our host's permission, we shall fight right here, monsieur."
"Any place suits me," said Chester. "And the weapons?"
"The choice lies with you, monsieur."
"Very good," said Chester. "Revolvers at ten paces!"
"Ten paces!" exclaimed one of the Frenchmen, stepping back in surprise.
"Surely monsieur is jesting!"
"Not a bit of it," replied Chester quietly. "I want to get close enough to make sure I can't miss him."
"But, monsieur," protested one of the Frenchmen, "it will make it that much easier for your opponent to hit you also."
"He won't hit me," said Chester. "Don't you worry about that. Revolvers at ten paces, or there will be no fight."
The French officer who had volunteered to act as the other's second bowed.
"It shall be as monsieur desires," he said.
The revolvers of the others, which had covered Hal, were now lowered, and the lad was allowed to pick up his weapons. He approached Chester.
"Are you sure you can get him?" he asked.
"Dead certain," replied Chester. "Look at him now. See how he's shaking. It's the ten paces that did that. He knows I can't possibly miss him at that distance, and he is consequently nervous for fear his first shot may go wild."
There was truth in the lad's words. Chester's antagonist was plainly nervous, and he and his second talked together in low tones. Finally the second came over to Hal.
"My friend," he said, "wishing to spare your friend's life, is willing to accept his apology."
"There'll be no apology," growled Chester, who had overheard this remark.
"But the ten paces, monsieur," protested the Frenchman. "It will be murder. My friend is a crack shot. At the distance he cannot miss. He would give your friend a chance for his life by lengthening the distance."
"Ten paces or nothing," replied Hal.
The Frenchman bowed and returned to his principal. They conversed in low tones, and finally the second announced that the terms were satisfactory.
As the two principals came together Hal perceived a peculiar gleam in the eye of the Frenchman, and realized in a moment that Chester's antagonist had some scheme up his sleeve. Hal thought rapidly, and then drew a breath of relief. He believed he had solved the Frenchman's plan and he determined to thwart it.
The two principals, according to the arrangements made, were to stand back to back, and, at the count of three, each take five steps, turn and fire at will. Each weapon had been carefully examined by both seconds and all cartridges removed but two. Consequently, each was to be allowed two shots, if necessary, and, in the event that neither fell, honor was to be declared appeased. It was also stipulated that should one of the principals fire before he had taken five paces he should be shot down by the other's second.
The seconds were the only two permitted to have arms besides the principals. Hal had insisted upon this, and, accordingly, the others turned their weapons over to the proprietor, who, at Hal's command, had taken them to the next room.
Chester and his opponent stood back to back, and Hal, who had called the toss of a coin, began to count:
"One! Two! Three!"
At the word Chester and the French officer who had stood in the center of the room walked slowly away from each other with measured stride.
Two steps, three, four, the young Frenchman took, and then wheeled suddenly and brought his revolver to bear upon the back of his antagonist, who was taking the full five strides. The Frenchman's finger tightened on the trigger.
But Hal had been watching him like a hawk. His quick mind had detected the treachery of the Frenchman before the two had taken their places, and he held his own revolver ready, as did the Frenchman's second.
As the Frenchman wheeled suddenly, upon his fourth step, and his finger pressed the trigger, Hal's own weapon spoke suddenly. With a cry the Frenchman threw up both hands, and pitched to the floor on his face.
The next moment Hal's revolver covered the Frenchman's second, before the latter could raise his own weapon—had such been his intention—and in a stern voice the lad cried:
"So this is French bravery, eh? You shoot men in the back! No wonder your principal agreed upon ten paces."
Chester, having wheeled quickly at his fifth step, took in the situation at a glance, and his revolver covered the other French officers. One of the latter, raising a hand, stepped forward.
"Monsieur," he said quietly to Chester, "I would have you believe that neither I nor my friends had a hand in this. Had we known what our friend contemplated, we would not have allowed the duel to proceed."
Chester glanced at the Frenchman keenly for a moment, then lowered his revolver.
"I believe you," he said simply.
Hal also now lowered the weapon with which he had covered the Frenchman's second, and the latter also made profuse protests of innocence, which both lads believed to be true. Then he bent over Chester's late antagonist.
"He is still alive," he said, looking up after an examination. "The bullet struck him in the chest. With proper attention he will recover." He approached Chester and held out his hand. "I regret this unpleasant incident exceedingly," he said. "I trust you will absolve us from blame."
"Of course," said Chester, grasping the outstretched hand. "I would be loath to believe that all Frenchmen are not true soldiers and honorable gentlemen."
Hal also shook hands all around with the young Frenchmen, and a few moments later announced that they must be on their way. The Frenchmen escorted them to their car, which was now ready and waiting for them, and, as Hal sent it forward with a lurch, they sped the lads on their way with rousing cheers.
"By Jove! That was a pretty narrow squeak!" Chester called over Hal's shoulder, as the car swept from the little city of Nanteul and sped on across the open country. "If you hadn't been on the alert I would be with the angels now."
"I don't know how I came to suspect him," replied Hal, also raising his voice to a shout, to make himself heard above the roaring of the flying automobile. "Something seemed to tell me he was up to some deviltry, and I figured it out before you took your places. So, when he turned before time, I was ready for him."
"And a good thing for me that you were," Chester muttered to himself.
The car sped on.
Through Dammartin they dashed with slightly diminished speed, and, bearing off a trifle to the north, passed through St. Gonesse. Ten minutes later they came within sight of Paris and Hal slowed down.
"Well, I guess we won't have any more trouble before we get to Paris," he said. "I judge that we are on the outskirts now."
The car continued at a more moderate gait. Passing vehicles became more frequent now, and the lad was forced to go very slowly in some places to avoid dense crowds of pedestrians and troops.
"Where are we going to find the Prime Minister, Hal?" asked Chester.
"By Jove! I hadn't thought of that!" exclaimed Hal. "We'll have to find out."
They were in the very heart of the city now. Hal brought the car to a stand, near one of the city's police officers and accosted the latter in French.
"We bear a communication from General Joffre to the Prime Minister," he said. "Can you tell us where to find him? We are strangers in the city."
The policeman was very polite. He signaled another officer, who was passing, and repeated Hal's request. The latter immediately climbed into the car beside Hal.
"I happen to know," he said, "that the Prime Minister at the present moment is at the Chamber of Deputies, where he is making an address. If your business is important, no doubt you will be permitted to see him as soon as he has concluded."
He pointed out the way, and Hal drove the car slowly along the streets. They drew up at last before an imposing building, which, the policeman informed them, was where the Chamber of Deputies sat. The lads alighted and ascended the steps.
At the entrance they were stopped by a soldier, who demanded their business.
"We bear a message from General Joffre to the Prime Minister," said Hal.
The soldier summoned an officer, to whom Hal repeated their errand. The latter motioned the lads to follow him, and showed them into a waiting-room and took his departure, ordering them to wait.
"The Prime Minister has concluded his address," he told them. "I shall take your message."
Half an hour later a man appeared in the doorway. He was slender and rather tall. "Lieutenants Paine and Crawford?" he asked.
"Yes, sir," replied the lads, getting to their feet.
"I," said the newcomer, "am the Prime Minister."