Major Rickards took that opportunity to advise his principal. "Stand sharp. Keep your arm close to your side. Don't fire too high. How do you feel?"
"Like a man who must die; but will try to die in company."
The seconds now withdrew to their places, and the rivals held their pistols lowered: but fixed their deadly eyes on each other.
The eye, in such a circumstance, is a terrible thing: it is literally a weapon of destruction; for it directs the deadly hand that guides the deadly bullet. Moreover the longer and the more steadily the duelist fixes his eye on his adversary, the less likely he is to miss.
Griffith was very pale, but dogged. Neville was serious, but firm. Both eyed each other unflinchingly.
"Gentlemen, are you ready?" asked Neville's second.
{"Yes."
{"Yes."
"Then," said Major Rickards, "you will fire when I let fall this handkerchief, and not before. Mark me, gentlemen; to prevent mistakes, I shall say 'one——two——three'——and then drop the handkerchief. Now then, once more, are you quite ready?"
{"Yes."