CHAPTER XXXIX
HOW TO PREPARE A NOVICE IN HALF AN HOUR FOR A DUEL
A duel takes place only a few hours after the challenge, generally early next morning, to prevent interruption.
Suppose a man has never had a pistol in his hand. How should he be trained in the half-hour at his disposal?
This is easy—if he is experienced with the shotgun at game or clay pigeons.
Show him the hind sight of the pistol; tell him it is merely to assist him in aligning the pistol.
Tell him that as there is only one barrel, it would be difficult to align it without this sight, pointing out to him that his double barrel shotgun can be aligned without this aid as in that case he looks along the rib.
Tell him to imagine he is using a shotgun, and to use his pistol exactly as he would use his gun if shooting at a rabbit which sat up on its hind legs for a moment, to listen.
Tell him he must be careful to keep the butt end of his pistol against his thigh, till he hears the word “un,” and that he must not fire after the word “trois”; in fact, he must not fire a poking shot.
On no account, unless he unfortunately knows it already, let him know the pistol may be raised after the word “feu.”