Sir Francis Varney looked after him with a strange kind of smile, as he
walked away to make the necessary preparation with Marchdale for the
immediate commencement of the contest. These were simple and brief. It was agreed that twelve paces should be
measured out, six each way, from a fixed point; one six to be paced by
the admiral, and the other by Marchdale; then they were to draw lots, to
see at which end of this imaginary line Varney was to be placed; after
this the signal for firing was to be one, two, three--fire! A few minutes sufficed to complete these arrangements; the ground was
measured in the manner we have stated, and the combatants placed in
their respective positions, Sir Francis Varney occupying the same spot
where he had at first stood, namely, that nearest to the little wood,
and to his own residence. It is impossible that under such circumstances the bravest and the
calmest of mankind could fail to feel some slight degree of tremour or
uneasiness; and, although we can fairly claim for Henry Bannerworth that
he was as truly courageous as any right feeling Christian man could wish
to be, yet when it was possible that he stood within, as it were, a
hair's breadth of eternity, a strange world of sensation and emotions
found a home in his heart, and he could not look altogether undaunted on
that future which might, for all he knew to the contrary, be so close at
hand, as far as he was concerned. It was not that he feared death, but that he looked with a decent
gravity upon so grave a change as that from this world to the next, and
hence was it that his face was pale, and that he looked all the emotion
which he really felt. This was the aspect and the bearing of a brave but not a reckless man;
while Sir Francis Varney, on the other hand, seemed, now that he had
fairly engaged in the duel, to look upon it and its attendant
circumstances with a kind of smirking satisfaction, as if he were far
more amused than personally interested. This was certainly the more extraordinary after the manner in which he
had tried to evade the fight, and, at all events, was quite a sufficient
proof that cowardice had not been his actuating motive in so doing. The admiral, who stood on a level with him, could not see the sort of
expression he wore, or, probably, he would have been far from well
pleased; but the others did, and they found something inexpressibly
disagreeable in the smirking kind of satisfaction with which the vampyre
seemed to regard now the proceedings. "Confound him," whispered Marchdale to Henry, "one would think he was
quite delighted, instead, as we had imagined him, not well pleased, at
these proceedings; look how he grins." "It is no matter," said Henry; "let him wear what aspect he may, it is
the same to me; and, as Heaven is my judge, I here declare, if I did not
think myself justified in so doing, I would not raise my hand against
this man." "There can be no shadow of a doubt regarding your justification. Have at
him, and Heaven protect you." "Amen!" The admiral was to give the word to fire, and now he and Marshal having
stepped sufficiently on one side to be out of all possible danger from
any stray shot, he commenced repeating the signal,--

"Are you ready, gentlemen?--once." They looked sternly at each other, and each grasped his pistol. "Twice!" Sir Francis Varney smiled and looked around him, as if the affair were
one of the most common-place description. "Thrice!" Varney seemed to be studying the sky rather than attending to the duel. "Fire!" said the admiral, and one report only struck upon the ear. It
was that from Henry's pistol. All eyes were turned upon Sir Francis Varney, who had evidently reserved
his fire, for what purpose could not be devised, except a murderous one,
the taking of a more steady aim at Henry. Sir Francis, however, seemed in no hurry, but smiled significantly, and
gradually raised the point of his weapon. "Did you hear the word, Sir Francis? I gave it loud enough, I am sure. I
never spoke plainer in my life; did I ever, Jack?" "Yes, often," said Jack Pringle; "what's the use of your asking such
yarns as them? you know you have done so often enough when you wanted
grog." "You d----d rascal, I'll--I'll have your back scored, I will." "So you will, when you are afloat again, which you never will be--you're
paid off, that's certain." "You lubberly lout, you ain't a seaman; a seaman would never mutiny
against his admiral; howsomever, do you hear, Sir Francis, I'll give the
matter up, if you don't pay some attention to me." Henry looked steadily at Varney, expecting every moment to feel his
bullet. Mr. Marchdale hastily exclaimed that this was not according to
usage. Sir Francis Varney took no notice, but went on elevating his weapon;
when it was perpendicular to the earth he fired in the air. "I had not anticipated this," said Marchdale, as he walked to Henry. "I
thought he was taking a more deadly aim." "And I," said Henry. "Ay, you have escaped, Henry; let me congratulate you." "Not so fast; we may fire again." "I can afford to do that," he said, with a smile. "You should have fired, sir, according to custom," said the admiral;
"this is not the proper thing." "What, fire at your friend?" "Oh, that's all very well! You are my friend for a time, vampyre as you
are, and I intend you shall fire." "If Mr. Henry Bannerworth demands another fire, I have no objection to
it, and will fire at him; but as it is I shall not do so, indeed, it
would be quite useless for him to do so--to point mortal weapons at me
is mere child's play, they will not hurt me." "The devil they won't," said the admiral. "Why, look you here," said Sir Francis Varney, stepping forward and
placing his hand to his neckerchief; "look you here; if Mr. Henry
Bannerworth should demand another fire, he may do so with the same
bullet." "The same bullet!" said Marchdale, stepping forward--"the same bullet! How is this?" "My eyes," said Jack; "who'd a thought it; there's a go! Wouldn't he do
for a dummy--to lead a forlorn hope, or to put among the boarders?" "Here," said Sir Francis, handing a bullet to Henry Bannerworth--"here
is the bullet you shot at me." Henry looked at it--it was blackened by powder; and then Marchdale
seized it and tried it in the pistol, but found the bullet fitted
Henry's weapon. "By heavens, it is so!" he exclaimed, stepping back and looking at
Varney from top to toe in horror and amazement. "D----e," said the admiral, "if I understand this. Why Jack Pringle, you
dog, here's a strange fish." "On, no! there's plenty on 'um in some countries." "Will you insist upon another fire, or may I consider you satisfied?" "I shall object," said Marchdale. "Henry, this affair must go no
further; it would be madness--worse than madness, to fight upon such
terms." "So say I," said the admiral. "I will not have anything to do with you,
Sir Francis. I'll not be your second any longer. I didn't bargain for
such a game as this.