“Why not run it off? Both of you can run. Make the course a certain number of times round the wooden track, and let the fellow that’s beaten set up fudges and stuff for the principals and seconds. I call that a very honorable arrangement.”
“It isn’t quite regular,” remarked Shirley, doubtfully. “Properly there ought to be some blood shed.”
“If I’m beaten, I’ll apologize,” said Duncan. “How does that strike you? I suppose on a pinch I might produce a little blood. I don’t want to neglect any formalities.”
“I think I can accept without that,” said Shirley, with magnanimity.
“The one that’s beaten sets up for the crowd; don’t forget that!” Woods interposed. “Whose second am I going to be?”
“You can have him and I’ll get some one else, or I’ll take him and you can have some one else.” Duncan was truly generous.
“I’ll take him,” said Shirley.
“Then, sir, I will send my second to wait upon yours and arrange for the details of the combat. I have the honor, sir, to wish you good afternoon. We shall meet again!” This grand peroration safely and pompously delivered, Duncan stalked solemnly away.
So much time had been consumed in this highly interesting interview with Shirley that Duncan postponed until after recitation the pleasure of retailing the whole story to Bruce, and giving him the chance to act as second. On the way home he remembered that Bruce was to be in Boston the following day, but this did not dampen his spirits. Seconds for such an occasion could be obtained by the squad. He flew upstairs to his room chuckling and stumbling, nodded absently to Archer, who was moping over a Greek lesson, and took up an algebra with the intention of utilizing the fifteen minutes remaining to gain some idea of the methods of the review chapter which was the lesson for the four-o’clock flunkers’ class. Through the carelessness of inattention he ran on a snag in the first explanation, and had to call on his room-mate to help him off. Then he worked out two problems near the beginning and one near the end of the exercise, threw the book on the table, looked at his watch, rose, stretched, and burst into a hearty laugh.
“I never saw anything so funny as that in the algebra,” remarked Sam, observing his merry room-mate over his reading glasses.