"It's plain enough," said Harry. "We can take it turn about."
"But the man who fires the first shot has an immense advantage," said Ashby.
"Pardon me," said Harry; "that does not necessarily follow. He may hit his foe, of course, but the wound may only be a trifling one after all; or he may miss his shot altogether. It often happens so in duels. Moreover, as you very well know, in a duel it never happens that both fire at the same instant. One always fires a little before the other. So in our case it will simply amount to this, that one of us will fire a little before the other. In that case the first man may miss, and the second man will then come in for his turn."
"But how shall we decide who is to fire first?" said Ashby.
"Oh, that's easy enough," said Harry; "we can toss up."
"Oh, very well."
"Have you a coin?"
"Not one."
"Nor I—not a copper, even. The beggarly Carlists have drained me dry."
"We must find something else," said Ashby.