'
Harland spoke a word or two to Drummond, and then said in a voice
distinct and audible to all:
'If after I call three Mr. Ham is not upon his ground the affair
shall be declared off. My other alternative will then be in order.
One, two----'
'Hold, hold, I'm coming,' groaned the coward, as he took his place.
'Now, gentlemen, your backs to each other,' said Harland. 'I shall
count one, two, three, and at the end of the last count each man
shall wheel and fire.'
'If I fall I shall have you proceeded against, Drummond-you are in a
conspiracy to murder a sick man.'
'I did not know that Mr. Ham was an Irishman,' chimed in Harland.
'One!'
'Oh!' groaned the respectable Mr. Ham.
'Two--three!' Simultaneously with the word 'three' there was a
pistol shot. The gentlemanly Mr. Ham had fired before his opponent
turned. Before he could see the result of his shot, Gray who had
turned promptly at the word, fired; and with a frightful yell Mr. Ham
fell to the earth, and lay there. The doctor ran up, and putting the
fingers of his left hand upon the fellow's wrist, with the other made
search for the wound.
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