The Major wagged his head. “My boy, it’s a testimonial to the progress of the world that you haven’t a notion. Time was, I’m sorry to say, when a fine, upstanding lad like you would have known only too well what these were and how they were used. These are dueling pistols, sir!” “Oh!” cried Sam, and bent over the case with increased interest. “And--and were they ever--ever----” “They were,” said the Major drily. “Oh, yes--more than once. Genuine article, I do assure you! But that sort of thing is over and done with, fortunately.” Sam straightened his back. “I’ve read about duels, of course. And some of the books speak as if there must have been lots of them.” “Too many!” snorted the Major. “That’s perfectly true, sir. Principle was all wrong, but it took centuries to make the discovery. Honest men, honorable men mistakenly believed that the way to do justice and to accept justice was by killing each other or standing up to be killed. All wrong; all wrong, sir! The law is the law, and to it we must look for redress for injuries.” “Yes, sir,” said Sam, a deal impressed by this testimony from one commonly reputed to be a stubborn and unyielding antagonist. “Only--only”--a curious thought had thrust itself upon him--“only, can you always be sure of what the law is? I mean, that is, can you always be sure of what you ought to do?” “Eh?” The bushy eyebrows came together as if the Major were perplexed by the question. “Can you always find a law--or a rule--that applies?” “Well, a law is general in its terms, of course. And you’ve some special instance in mind, haven’t you?” Sam hesitated. “I--I--well, I’m thinking of a case in which a fellow acted on what he thought was full justification, and found, afterward, that--well, that there had been a lot of mistakes.” “Honest mistakes?” “Yes, sir. Only----” “Pardon me!” the Major interrupted. “Let me cite a case. Once a friend of mine, who had to carry a great deal of money, was set upon by masked and armed men. In what he fully believed was self-defense he shot and killed one of them. It proved that the attack was the work of rash practical jokers. My friend was acquitted, justly. Now, was his case like that which you are considering?” Again Sam hesitated. “Yes--and no, sir. My case isn’t quite so clear.” “Little prejudice to begin with--biased judgment?” queried the Major keenly. “That’s the trouble, sir,” said Sam frankly. “The evidence looked all right, but how can I be certain that it ought to have seemed so?” “Difficult!” said the Major tersely. “Well, sir, what would you do if you were in my--if you were in the fix?”