“Are you sure you can get him?” he asked.

“Dead certain,” replied Chester.  “Look at him now.  See how he’s shaking.  It’s the ten paces that did that.  He knows I can’t possibly miss him at that distance, and he is consequently nervous for fear his first shot may go wild.”

There was truth in the lad’s words.  Chester’s antagonist was plainly nervous, and he and his second talked together in low tones.  Finally the second came over to Hal.

“My friend,” he said, “wishing to spare your friend’s life, is willing to accept his apology.”

“There’ll be no apology,” growled Chester, who had overheard this remark.

“But the ten paces, monsieur,” protested the Frenchman.  “It will be murder.  My friend is a crack shot.  At the distance he cannot miss.  He would give your friend a chance for his life by lengthening the distance.”

“Ten paces or nothing,” replied Hal.

The Frenchman bowed and returned to his principal.  They conversed in low tones, and finally the second announced that the terms were satisfactory.

As the two principals came together Hal perceived a peculiar gleam in the eye of the Frenchman, and realized in a moment that Chester’s antagonist had some scheme up his sleeve.  Hal thought rapidly, and then drew a breath of relief.  He believed he had solved the Frenchman’s plan and he determined to thwart it.

The two principals, according to the arrangements made, were to stand back to back, and, at the count of three, each take five steps, turn and fire at will.  Each weapon had been carefully examined by both seconds and all cartridges removed but two.  Consequently, each was to be allowed two shots, if necessary, and, in the event that neither fell, honor was to be declared appeased.  It was also stipulated that should one of the principals fire before he had taken five paces he should be shot down by the other’s second.

The seconds were the only two permitted to have arms besides the principals.  Hal had insisted upon this, and, accordingly, the others turned their weapons over to the proprietor, who, at Hal’s command, had taken them to the next room.

Chester and his opponent stood back to back, and Hal, who had called the toss of a coin, began to count: 

“One!  Two!  Three!”

At the word Chester and the French officer who had stood in the center of the room walked slowly away from each other with measured stride.

Two steps, three, four, the young Frenchman took, and then wheeled suddenly and brought his revolver to bear upon the back of his antagonist, who was taking the full five strides.  The Frenchman’s finger tightened on the trigger.

But Hal had been watching him like a hawk.  His quick mind had detected the treachery of the Frenchman before the two had taken their places, and he held his own revolver ready, as did the Frenchman’s second.

As the Frenchman wheeled suddenly, upon his fourth step, and his finger pressed the trigger, Hal’s own weapon spoke suddenly.  With a cry the Frenchman threw up both hands, and pitched to the floor on his face.