Jack Harkaway in New York; or, The Adventures of the Travelers' Club

by Bracebridge Hemyng

  CHAPTER II.

  "THE DUEL ON THE SANDS."

  Jack Harkaway was afraid of no man living, and though averse toquarreling, he always supported his friends.

  "You have committed a gross outrage on Mr. Mole!" he exclaimed; "and inhis name, I demand an apology."

  "Indeed!" sneered Maltravers.

  "And what is more, I mean to have it."

  "Is that so?"

  "Apologize, my lord, or something may--nay, will assuredly happen whichboth of us will have cause to regret."

  "You want, sir, what I do not feel inclined to give you," repliedMaltravers. "I am not in the habit of apologizing to a gentleman, andshould not think of doing so to _you_."

  "That is as much as to say that I am not a gentleman," exclaimed Jack,the hot blood rushing in a crimson tide to his face.

  "You are perfectly at liberty to place whatever construction you likeon my words, sir."

  Simpkins smiled approval in his usual insipid manner.

  "Bravo!" he lisped. "Very fine, indeed."

  "I ask you once more," said Jack, "if you will make the _amendehonorable_ to my friend?"

  "And I distinctly refuse to do so."

  "In that case I shall chastise you, as I would any yelping cur whichannoyed me in the street. Mind yourself, my lord," Jack exclaimed.

  He raised his fist and dealt Maltravers a blow which the other vainlyendeavored to ward off.

  His lordship fell heavily against the wall and the blood flowed from acut in his face, which extended the whole length of the right cheek.

  "Good heavens!" said Simpkins. "The man is a butcher. He has marked youfor life, Maltravers."

  The latter applied a silk handkerchief to his hurt, withdrawing itcovered with the hot blood.

  "Coward!" he exclaimed. "You struck me with a ring on your finger."

  "Served you right," said Mr. Mole. "I wish he had given you more of it.This will teach you not to insult an old man, who never did you anyharm."

  "I am not talking to you, imbecile," hissed Maltravers.

  He turned to his toady:

  "Give me your arm, Simpkins," he added.

  "With all the pleasure in life," was the reply.

  "You shall hear from me, Mr. Harkaway," continued Maltravers.

  "Whenever you please," answered Jack, carelessly.

  "I presume you will not refuse me the satisfaction of a gentleman."

  "You can rely upon me."

  His lordship bowed stiffly, and, still holding the handkerchief to thecut, from which the blood trickled slowly, left the room.

  "Am I much hurt, Simpkins?" he asked.

  "Cut all to pieces."

  "Shall I be disfigured?"

  "You will always have a scar, I fear," replied Simpkins.

  "Curse that fellow!" cried Maltravers, between his clenched teeth, "heshall pay a terrible reckoning for this."

  "Why didn't you hit him back again?"

  "He took me by surprise, and he hit with such force, that he knocked meout of time. My head swims now and I am so dizzy, I feel as if I shouldfaint."

  They passed out of the door, leaving Jack and the professor together.

  The latter shook Harkaway by the hand very warmly.

  "Many thanks, my dear fellow," he exclaimed. "You acted very properlyin punishing that man. He has made a dead-set at me for some time past."

  "On my account; I know it all," replied Jack. "This row was bound tocome. I was warned of it only this morning."

  "Do you think he means to fight?"

  "I am sure of it."

  "And you will meet him?"

  "I do not see how I can avoid it. No matter; _vive la bagatelle_, asthe French say. A life of adventure for me."

  Jack related to Mr. Mole the proceedings of the club and the selectionof a committee to proceed to New York. In a short time Harvey came in,and when told about the quarrel with Lord Maltravers, gladly consentedto act as his second, if a challenge should be sent.

  The law of England forbade dueling, but in France, hostile meetingsfrequently took place, and they did not doubt that the encounter wouldbe arranged for that country.

  As the challenged party, Jack had the choice of weapons and resolved tochoose swords, as he was an expert swordsman.

  He invited the professor and Harvey to dine with him at his hotel,intending to go to the theater afterward, but this intention wasfrustrated by the visit of Captain Cannon, who sent up his card sayinghe wanted to see him on urgent business.

  Jack stepped into an inner room and at once accorded him an interview.

  "Very sorry to trouble you about an unpleasant matter," said thecaptain. "But Lord Maltravers has asked me to act as his friend."

  "I understand," replied Jack. "You have heard all about thisunfortunate business."

  "Surely, and if a blow had not been struck we could have arranged it.As it is, a meeting must take place."

  "Where?"

  "At Calais, by daybreak to-morrow morning."

  "So soon?"

  "Yes, it is useless to delay," replied the captain. "The express trainleaves at half-past eight. Who is your second?"

  "Mr. Harvey."

  "Very well. I shall expect him at my hotel, the Imperial, after ourarrival. We will arrange everything. It is all very simple. I fought adozen duels before I was your age and always winged my man."

  "Really!"

  "Fact, I assure you. Keep your courage up."

  "No fear of that," replied Jack. "I hope your principal will be as calmas I am."

  "Oh! he won't show the white feather," answered Captain Cannon. "TheMaltravers blood may be bad, but there isn't an ounce of cowardice init. Good-by, we meet to-morrow."

  Jack nodded, and seeing Captain Cannon out, excused himself to Mr. Moleand sent for Monday, to whom he confided the fact that he was going toFrance to fight a duel.

  "You fight a jewell, Marse Jack?" said Monday; "what you want to dothat for?"

  "It is a point of honor. Don't you see? I struck this man and must givehim satisfaction."

  "You leave him to me and I put six inches of bowie-knife in him, forsuah."

  Monday's eyes gleamed like those of a cougar, and it was clear that hemeant what he said.

  "Don't ever talk to me like that again," exclaimed Jack. "I am noassassin."

  By half-past eight, Jack and Harvey were comfortably seated in acarriage of the mail train on their way to France.

  "If I fall," said Jack, "I want you to see Miss Van Hoosen and tell herthat my last thoughts were of her."

  "I'll do it," replied Harvey. "But I do not think anything will happento you."

  They arrived in due course and Jack retired to rest, while Harveysought Captain Cannon to arrange the preliminaries.

  He found the captain drinking wine with Lord Maltravers and talkingloudly about the exploits of his youth.

  "Ah! Harvey," he exclaimed, "here you are. Sit down and join us in thefoaming goblet. That's a good phrase I flatter myself. A duel stirs myblood and carries me back a long way. I recollect when I was quarteredin Dublin, a fiery young Hussar took exception to something I said andthrew a glass of wine in my face--he did, by Jove, sir. That was a caseof pistols for two and a coffin for one. I met him in Phoenix Park thenext day and at the first fire, I shot him through the heart, and wentto the expense of having his body embalmed to send home to his mother."

  "Very considerate of you, I am sure," remarked Harvey.

  "Oh! it's just like me. I'm all heart. By the way, what weapons doesyour principal select?"

  "Swords."

  "Humph! I'd rather it had been pistols, because the affair would havebeen over sooner; but no matter. I have an elegant pair of rapiers. Wewill meet you at six o'clock on the sands at low-water, one mile southof the town."

  "That is sufficient," answered Harvey.

  He refused to spend the night in a spree as the captain evidentlyintended to, and returned to his own hotel.

  At five o'clock he had Jack up, a
nd they sought the appointed spot,finding Lord Maltravers and his second already there.

  In an instant the principals stripped to their shirts and grasped theweapons which were handed them.

  The swords were of highly tempered steel, sharply pointed and aspliable as a willow wand.

  The sun was just rising in the east, gilding the horizon with itsburning rays. A few fishing-smacks lay in the offing. The tide wason the turn, and the wavelets plashed mournfully on the sand, as ifsinging a requiem.

  "_En garde_!" cried Maltravers.

  Jack placed himself in position. His right arm and knee advanced, andhis left hand by his side.

  The swords clashed as they crossed each other, and recovering, theduelists watched carefully for an opening.

  Lord Maltravers lunged in _carte_, but his thrust was delicately foiledby his opponent, who parried it skillfully.

  A long strip of plaster hid the cut on his lordship's face, which wasghastly white and terribly in earnest.

  For some minutes they fenced with the adroitness of veteran swordsmen,neither gaining the slightest advantage, though a hectic spot whichappeared on Maltravers's face, indicated that his mind was less at easethan Jack's.

  Suddenly Jack ceased to act on the defensive and became the aggressor,breaking down his lordship's guard and pinking him slightly in the leftarm.

  "First blood!" said Harvey; "are you satisfied?"

  "Confound it, no. This is a duel to the death," replied Maltravers, hisface distorted with passion.

  "As you please," replied Jack.

  Again, they faced one another, the wounded man having hastily tied apiece of his shirt sleeve round his arm.

  The swords clashed in the bright morning sunshine, which every momentbecame brighter.

  In vain Maltravers strove to injure his enemy. Each thrust was parriedand he panted with exertion, while tears of impotent rage started tohis eyes.

  "Ha! I have you now," he exclaimed, as the point of his rapier touchedJack's breast.

  "Not quite," replied Jack, who threw himself back, instantly recovered,and lunging in _tierce_, sent his weapon through the left shoulder ofthe nobleman.

  Maltravers staggered; he leant upon his sword, which snapped in half,and he sunk upon his knees, his face convulsed with pain.

  "That ends it," exclaimed the captain. "I confess myself satisfied."

  "No! No!" cried his lordship, seizing the pointed end of his rapier andbinding a kerchief round the broken part so as to hold it more securely.

  "Surely, you will fight no more?"

  "I will fight till I drop."

  Harkaway broke his sword in half over his knee and grasped the narrowend, in the same manner as his adversary.

  "I am willing," he replied.

  "My dear fellow," remonstrated Harvey, "are you insane?"

  "By no means," was the calm and confident reply. "I did not come hereto play, and besides, I hate to leave my work half finished."

  "Eh! the wretch," said Maltravers, bursting with rage, "he mocks me;but we shall see."

  Jack sunk on his knees in front of Maltravers, and they were now sonear, that their eyes returned flash for flash and their hot breathfanned each other's face.

  Maltravers was bleeding profusely, his blood dropping on the thirstysand, which greedily sucked up the ruby fluid, and the ghastly pallorof his face deepened.

  In a few minutes he had succeeded in inflicting a few scratches uponhis adversary and he grated his teeth with grim satisfaction.

  This irritated Jack, who precipitated matters, by receiving the pointof his lordship's weapon in his left arm and throwing himself upon him,piercing his breast and bearing him to the ground.

  Now Maltravers could utter no protest, for he fainted and extendedhimself on the ground in the attitude of a corpse.

  Jack hurriedly put on his coat.

  He was bleeding, but in the excitement of the moment felt noinconvenience, and it was not till his wound stiffened that he knew hewas hurt. They began to leave the spot.

  "Look here," said the captain, "this is contrary to all precedent. Irecollect when I fought the major of the Twenty-seventh, and left himfor dead, we sent a coach after him and a doctor."

  "All right," responded Harvey, "we will do that for you."

  He departed hastily with Harkaway, and the captain dragged theinsensible body of Maltravers to a spot further inland, where therapidly advancing waves could not touch it.

  For the next hour he busied himself in stanching the blood, whichindeed was the only way of saving the defeated man's life. At theexpiration of that time he perceived a carriage driving furiously alongthe sand.

  When it reached the spot where the captain was standing a gentlemanstepped out.

  "I am the doctor," he said.

  Captain Cannon nodded, and after a brief examination the medical manordered Maltravers to be driven to the hotel.

  For some hours he hovered between life and death.

  The captain remained in constant attendance by the bedside, until asevere attack of fever supervened, when a professional nurse was hired.

  On the third day the crisis came.

  It was midnight when the doctor left the sick man's room and sought thecaptain.

  "Has this gentleman any friends?" he inquired.

  "Yes, in England," was the reply.

  "It will be best to send for them without delay."

  "Is the case so grave as that?"

  "I cannot answer for the result," replied the doctor.

  Captain Cannon at once telegraphed to Lady Maltravers, the mother ofthe sick man.

  That night the patient was very feverish and restless; he recognized noone.

  In the afternoon of the following day Lady Maltravers arrived at thehotel accompanied by Bambino, his lordship's Italian servant.

  This fellow had a most villainous countenance and it was said that hehad been condemned to the galleys for a term of years, in expiation ofsome terrible crime.

  "My son! Where is my son?" demanded Lady Maltravers.

  She was conducted to his room and from that time forth watched over himwith all a mother's devotion.