The aspect of the two principals was in singular contrast. On the one side a man burning for revenge, who, to use a common but terrible parlance, desired to "wash out the dishonour put upon him in blood." The other was there, regretting that cause existed for the awful arbitrament, and only anxious to defend his own, not take another's life. To sensitive minds the reaction is always painful of having insulted another, when the excitement is over which prompted it. When the hot blood which inflamed the brain runs in cooler currents, the man of feeling always regrets, if he does not reproach himself with, having urged his fellow-man to break the commandments of the Most High, and deface, perhaps annihilate, the form that was moulded in His image. The words "liar and ruffian" haunted Edward's mind reproachfully; but then the provocation--"rebel!"--no gentleman could brook it. Because his commiseration for a people had endeared him to them, was he to be called "_rebel_"? Because, at the risk of his own life, he had preserved perhaps scores, and prevented an infraction of the law, was he to be called "_rebel_"? He stood acquitted before his own conscience:--after all, the most terrible bar before which he can be called in _this_ world. The men were placed upon their ground, and the word to fire given. O'Grady, in his desire for vengeance, deliberately raised his pistol with deadly aim, and Edward was thus enabled to fire first, yet with such cool precision, that his shot took effect as he intended; O'Grady's arm was ripped up from the wrist to the elbow; but so determined was his will, and so firm his aim, that the wound, severe as it was, produced but a slight twitch in his hand, which threw it up slightly, and saved Edward's life, for the ball passed through his hat _just_ above his head. O'Grady's arm instantly after dropped to his side, the pistol fell from his hand, and he staggered, for the pain of the wound was extreme. His second ran to his assistance. "It is only in the arm," said O'Grady, firmly, though his voice was changed by the agony he suffered; "give me another pistol." Dick at the same moment was beside Edward. "You're not touched," he said. Edward coolly pointed to his hat. "Too much powder," said Dick; "I thought so when his pistols were loaded." "No," said Edward, "it was my shot; I saw his hand twitch." Scatterbrain demanded of Dick another shot on the part of O'Grady. "By all means," was the answer, and he handed a fresh pistol to Edward. "To give the devil his due," said Dick, "he has great pluck, for you hit him hard--see how pale he looks--I don't think he can hurt you much this time--but watch him well, my dear Ned."