"Oh, then _thim_ is jewellin' pistles. Why, musha, Misther Dick, is it goin' to fight a jule you are?" said Andy, looking at him with earnestness. "No, Andy, but the master is; but don't say a word about it." "Not a word for the world. The masther's goin' to fight! God send him safe out iv it! amin. And who is he going to fight, Misther Dick?" "Murphy, the attorney, Andy." "Oh, won't the masther disgrace himself by fightin' the 'torney?" "How dare you say such a thing of your master?" "I ax your pard'n, Misther Dick: but sure you know what I mane. I hope he'll shoot him." "Why, Andy, Murtough was always very good to you, and now you wish him to be shot." "Sure, why wouldn't I rather have him kilt more than the masther?" "But neither may be killed." "Misther Dick," said Andy, lowering his voice, "wouldn't it be an iligant thing to put two balls into the pistle instead o' one, and give the masther a chance over the 'torney?" "Oh, you murdherous villain!" "Arrah! why shouldn't the masther have a chance over him!--sure he has childre, and 'Torney Murphy has none." "At any rate, Andy, I suppose you'd give the masther a ball additional for every child he has, and that would make eight. So you might as well give him a blunderbuss and slugs at once." Dick loaded the pistol-case, having made all right, and desired Andy to mount a horse, carry it by a back road out of the demesne, and wait at a certain gate he named until he should be joined there by himself and the squire, who proceeded at the appointed time to the ground. Andy was all ready, and followed his master and Dick with great pride, bearing the pistol-case after them to the ground, where Murphy and Tom Durfy were ready to receive them; and a great number of spectators were assembled, for the noise of the business had gone abroad, and the ground was in consequence crowded. Tom Durfy had warned Murtough Murphy, who had no experience as a pistol man, that the squire was a capital shot, and that his only chance was to fire as quickly as he could. "Slap at him, Morty, my boy, the minute you get the word; and if you don't hit him itself, it will prevent his dwelling on his aim."