“'Yes,' says the Captain, 'that's it; get up and make him drive briskly to Boitsfort.' We were a bit late, I think, for the others was there when we got up, and I heard them grumbling something about being behind time. 'Egad,' says the Captain, 'you 'll find we 've come early enough before we've done with you.' They were cruel words, sir, now that I think how he tumbled him over stone dead in a moment.” “Who dead?” “That fine, handsome young man, with the light-brown beard,--Hamilton, they said his name was,--and a nicer fellow you could n't wish to see. I 'll never forget him as he lay there stretched on the grass, and the small blue hole in his forehead,--you 'd not believe it was ever half the size of a bullet,--and his glove in his left hand, all so natural as if he was alive. I believe I 'd have been standing there yet, looking at him, when the Captain called me, and said, 'Rivers, take these stirrups up a hole,'--for he had a saddle-horse all ready for him,--'and give this note to Mr. Beecher; he 'll give you his orders about Klepper,' says he, 'but mind you look to that hock.'” “And Captain Hamilton was killed?” muttered Beecher, while he trembled from head to foot at the terrible tidings. “Killed--dead--he never moved a finger after he fell!” “What did his friend do? Did he say anything?--did he speak?” “He dropped down on his knees beside him, and caught him by the hand, and cried out, 'George, my own dear fellow,--George, speak to me;' but George never spoke another word.” “And Davis,--Captain Davis,--what did he do?” “He shook hands with Jones, and said something in French that made him laugh; and then going over to where the body lay, he said, 'Colonel Humphrey,' says he, 'you 're a witness that all was fair and honorable, and that if this unhappy affair ever comes to be--' and then the Colonel moved his hand for him to be off, and not speak to him. And so the Captain took his advice, and got into the saddle; but I heard him mutter something about 'teaching the Colonel better manners next time they met.” [Illustration: 350] “And then he rode away?” “Yes; he turned into the wood, at a walking pace, for he was lighting his cigar. I saw no more of him, after that, for they called me to help them with the body, and it was all we could do, four of us, to carry him to the road where the carriage was standing.” “Did you ever hear them mention my name amongst them?” asked Beecher, tremblingly. “No, sir; nobody spoke of you but my master, when he handed me the note.” “What a sad business it has all been!” exclaimed Beecher, half aloud. “I suppose it would go hard with the Captain, sir, if he was caught?” said Rivers, inquiringly.