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 bumped 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 scrape 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." "How did you sleep?" demanded Chester, as Hal was dressing. "Fine. Never slept better in my life." Lieutenant Anderson approached and laid his finger on Hal's pulse. "You'll do," he said quietly. "I haven't any nerves, if that is what you mean," said Hal with a smile. Lieutenant Anderson smiled back at him. "I believe it," he replied. "But come, we had better be on our way." Quietly the three left the tent. There was a penetrating chill in the early morning air. It was light now, but the sun had not yet appeared above the horizon. Dense clouds obscured the sky. "Not a very cheerful morning to die," commented Hal lightly, as they made their way quietly along. "You are not afraid, are you?" asked Chester anxiously. "What, after yesterday? Not a little bit." "I don't believe you know what fear is," declared Lieutenant Anderson.