“Did she tell you that?” asked Dave.
“No,” replied Tom, loftily. “She did not, but I know it. And what’s more, if he don’t marry her she’ll get sick and die of a broken heart.”
“How do you know?”
“How do I know? Ain’t I ever read anything? That’s what a girl does when she’s in love. But I’m goin’ to stop it. I’m goin’ to go to him and put it to him straight. If he’s anything of a man he’ll up and marry the girl, an’ if he don’t, well, I’ll challenge him!”
“Challenge him, how?” asked Dave, pausing, with his boot half off.
“Challenge him to fight a duel with Winchester rifles. You’ll have to be my second, an’ if I fall on the field of honour you’ve got to avenge me.”
“How am I going to do it, then?”
“If he shoots me you’ll have to challenge him next.”
“But suppose he shoots me?” asked Dave, doubtfully.
“You’ll have to get somebody to avenge you! That’s what they call a vendetta.”