"Surely that is not thinkable! In that case we will just go for him in his own house." "Now, meantime, what do you propose doing?" "Well, I think that we might get on with our own business and not wait for him. By delay he has lost his right of precedence, and must take the second place. I propose, gentlemen, therefore, that we take the second appointment first." After a short discussion, the seconds agreed, and since the nature of the quarrel barred all idea of reconciliation, they staked out the barriers, and placed the opponents against the two opposite walls. The weapons which the seconds handed to them, were a pair of rough old riding pistols, which were so constructed that the bullets fired into a group of ten men, would have probably perforated the cloak of one of the party, provided he had one on. The combatants shot at first at five-and-twenty paces; they were honestly bent on hitting one another, yet neither succeeded. At the second attempt they took aim at twenty paces, again without result. "Wretched weapons, these pistols!" growled the captain, "if I haven't brought down the vulture's nest in that wild pear-tree." "Perhaps mine are better," suggested Ráby. "My uncle Leányfalvy gave them to me, and they are already loaded." So the seconds accepted Ráby's weapons. One of them remarked, however, that the pistols were loaded to the muzzle, so that both of them, in this case, would do well to stand behind a pillar, seeing if one exploded, they would all be dead men, combatants and seconds alike. "It's quite safe," said Ráby, "the powder is good, and the charge is not too strong; there are only three bullets in each charge." "Now then, fire! One, two, three." At "three" Ráby's pistols cracked. Pistols loaded with three bullets have very often this peculiarity of not hitting the man they are fired at. After the two first terrible detonations everyone looked round extremely amazed that he and the rest were still alive. "Re-load your pistols," cried one of the seconds, and they did so. But when they were ready, an idea struck the other second. "Gentlemen, you have fired three times, and such being the case, honour is entirely satisfied. It is my duty to suggest a reconciliation." The two antagonists looked at each other. Was it worth while to fight to the death over this matter? So without more ado, they shook each other by the hand, and were friends. Now it would be Gyöngyöm Miska's turn, and he would have to reckon with two adversaries instead of one. So they waited on; yet he came not. What could be the reasons of his delay? Had a wheel come off? Could he not find the ruins? But these were a landmark, and even if he had gone astray, he must have heard the shots. "He surely cannot be a coward," muttered Ráby between his teeth, for his national pride was piqued by sundry contemptuous remarks the Austrian officers began to let fall. At last they heard the trotting of horses' hoofs. He was coming then!