"Choose swords," said Hal laconically, as Chester rose to greet the callers.

"Mr. Paine," queried one of the Frenchmen politely.

"No," replied Chester; "but I shall act for him."

"Good," returned the Frenchman. "I am Lieutenant Mercer, and this,"

indicating his companion, "is Lieutenant Lamont."

"I am Chester Crawford," said the lad briefly.

"Then, to get down to business," said Lieutenant Mercer. "Mr. Paine has insulted my friend, Lieutenant Dupree. My friend demands an apology."

"There'll be no apology," said Chester shortly.

"Ah! In that case my friend, Lieutenant Dupree, demands satisfaction from Mr. Paine."

"It seems to me he has had satisfaction," said Chester.

"Ah!" replied the Frenchman cheerfully. "You no doubt refer to the blow pa.s.sed by Mr. Paine? It is for that my friend demands satisfaction."

"He had that coming to him," declared Chester.

"So you may believe. Lieutenant Dupree thinks otherwise. Now, as to the arrangements----"

"Look here," said Chester, interrupting. "With the whole German army lined up in front of us, it seems to me that our friend should be able to find all the fighting he wants. This fighting among ourselves is all nonsense."

"But my friend's honor----" began the Frenchman.

"Bosh!" declared Chester. "It wasn't your friend's honor that was hurt. It was his face."

"Then am I to understand that your friend refuses to fight?"

"No!" shouted Chester. "He doesn't refuse to fight. He just doesn't see the necessity of fighting. That's all. But if you insist, he will give your friend all the satisfaction he wants."

"I must insist," replied Lieutenant Mercer.

"All right, then," said Chester. "I am not familiar with dueling etiquette, but as the challenged party I believe the choice of weapons lies with us."

The Frenchman bowed in a.s.sent.

"Then let it be swords!"

"Good! And the time and place?"

"I'll leave that to you."

"In the morning at half-past five--provided we are all alive--in the little woods half a mile in the rear. Are these convenient for you?"

"Perfectly. We shall be there on time. Will you please bring weapons?"

"I shall be delighted," replied the Frenchman. "Until the morning, then," and the two French officers bowed themselves out.

"Well, you are into it now," said Chester to Hal, after their visitors had gone. "Looks to me as though you had a fair chance of seeing the Happy Hunting Grounds before six o'clock to-morrow."

Before Hal could reply another visitor poked his head through the door of the tent.

"Am I intruding?" he asked.

"Lieutenant Anderson!" exclaimed Chester. "Just the man I wanted to see."

"What's the matter now?" demanded the lieutenant.

"Matter is that Hal's mixed up in a duel, to be pulled off in the morning."

"What!" exclaimed Lieutenant Anderson in surprise.

"Fact," said Hal. "I b.u.mped into some little whipper-snapper of a French lieutenant a couple of hours ago. He slapped me and I knocked him down. Now he demands satisfaction, and I am going to give it to him in the morning, at half-past five."

The lieutenant sat down heavily.

"Well, you are the limit," he said. "You are always in a sc.r.a.pe of some kind. I suppose it's up to me to prevent the duel."

"No chance," said Hal briefly.

"No," agreed Chester, "and it's up to you to make the third party on our side. I suppose the other crowd will bring a surgeon."

"Do you know what will happen if you are found out?" demanded the lieutenant.

"No," said Hal.

"Well, it probably will mean strict confinement, at least. The regulations in regard to dueling are very stringent."

"I can't help that," said Hal. "I can't back out now."

"Well, if that's the way you feel about it," replied the lieutenant, "I'll help you as best I can. I'll stay here to-night and go along to see that you get fair play."

CHAPTER VIII.

THE DUEL.

It was hardly light when Chester, who had been unable to close his eyes, aroused Lieutenant Anderson. The two finished dressing before rousing Hal, thinking to give him all the rest possible before waking him up. Finally Chester shook him by the shoulder.

"What's the matter," muttered Hal drowsily. "Time to get up already? I just went to sleep. What's up? Oh, yes, I remember now. I'm to fight a duel this morning. All right, I'll be ready in a jiffy."