Without even glancing toward the body of his antagonist, Clinton scowled at the child, and, turning away, was soon out of sight.
"Oh, sir! will you let him get away? will you let him go unpunished?"
"He cannot be punished," answered the surgeon, looking at her with mingled curiosity and admiration.
"I thought men were hung for murder."
"Yes—but this is not murder."
"Not murder? He shot him dead! What is it?"
"He killed him in a duel, which is considered quite right and altogether proper."
"A duel?"
She had never heard the word before, and pondered an instant.
"To take a man's life is murder. Is there no law to punish 'a duel'?"