Pat, I inquired; but no one could tell—he had disappeared shortly after out arrival, and had not been seen afterwards, My own thoughts were, however, too engrossing to permit me to think more of this circumstance, and I turned again to enter the house, when I saw Considine advancing up the road at the dull speed of his pony.
“Out with the mare, Charley—be alive, my boy—all’s settled.” So saying, he sprang from the pony, and proceeded to harness the roan with the greatest haste, informing me in broken sentences as he went on with all the arrangements.
“We are to cross the bridge of Portumna. They won the ground, and it seems Bodkin likes the spot: he shot Peyton there three years ago. Worse luck now, Charley, you know: by all the rules of chance, he can’t, expect the same thing twice—never four by honours in two deals—didn’t say that, though—a sweet meadow, I know it well; small hillocks like molehills all over it—caught him at breakfast; I don’t think he expected the message ta come from us, but said that it was a very polite attention—and so it was, you know.”
So be continued to ramble on, as we once more took our seats in the tax-cart, and set out for the ground.
“What are you thinking of, Charley?” said the Count, as I kept silent for some minutes.
“I’m thinking, sir, if I were to kill him, what I must do after.”
“Right, my boy; nothing like that, but I’ll settle all for you. Upon any conscience, if it wasn’t for the chance of his getting into another quarrel and spoiling the election, I’d go back for Godfrey; he’ll like to see you break ground so prettily, And you say you’re no shot?”
“Never could do anything with the pistol to speak of, sir,” said I, remembering his rebuke. of the morning.
“I don’t mind that: you’ve a good eye; never take it off him after you’re on the ground—follow him everywhere; poor Callaghan, that’s gone, shot his man always that way: he had a way of looking without winking that was very fatal, at a short distance; a very good thing to learn, Charley, when you have a little spare time.”
Half-an-hour’s sharp driving brought us to the river side, where a boat had been provided by Considine, to ferry us over. It was new about eight o’clock, and a heavy, gloomy morning; much rain had fallen over night, and the dark and louring atmosphere seemed charged with more. The mountains looked twice their real size, and all the shadows were increased to an enormous extent. A very killing kind of light it was, as the Count remarked.
Chapter VIII
The Duel
