It was a brilliant suggestion; and no sooner was it made, than it was adopted by all. So the horses were started, and the sleighs were turned in the deep slush until their backs were presented to one another. To settle the exact distance was a matter of some difficulty, and it had to be decided by the seconds. Jack and McGinty soon got into an altercation, in which Jack appealed to the light of reason, and McGinty to a past that was full of experience. He overwhelmed Jack with so many precedents for his view of the case, that at last the latter was compelled to yield. Then we drove forward, and then backward; now we were too far away, again we were too near, and there didn't appear to be any prospect of a settlement. At last O'Halloran suggested that we should back the sleighs toward one another till they touched, and then his sleigh would move forward twelve paces. "But who's to pace them?" asked Jack. "Why the horse, of course," said O'Halloran. "Sure it's a regular pacer he is, and bred up to it, so he is." To this Jack had nothing to say. So the horses backed and the sleighs touched one another. "Wait a minute McGinty, me boy," said O'Halloran--putting his hand on his friend's arm--"let's all take somethin' warrum. Me system is slowly conjaylin, an' such a steete of things is moighty onwholeaome." This proposition was received with the same unanimity which had greeted O'Halloran's other propositions. Flasks were brought out; and some minutes were passed in a general, a couvivial, and a very affectionate interchange of courtesies. "Me boy," said O'Halloran to me, affectionately, "ye haven't had so much ixpayrieence as I have, so I'll teek the liberty to give ye a small bit of instherruction. Whin ye foire, eem low! Moind that, now --ye'll be sure to hit." "Thank you," said I. He wrung my hand heartily; and then motioning to McGinty, his sleigh started off, and advanced a few paces from ours, a little farther than the usual distance on such an occasion. With this he seemed to be satisfied, and, as nobody made any objection, we prepared for the business of the day. O'Halloran and I stood up in the sleighs, while the seconds kept their seats. Jack and the doctor sat in the front seat of our sleigh. McGinty sat beside O'Halloran as he stood up. I stood in the after-seat of our sleigh. "Shall I give the word?" said Jack. "No," said McGinty. "I've had more exparience. I've been sicond at elivin jools--an' hope to assist an as minny more." "Shure we won't throuble ayiher of ye," said O'Halloran. "It's me that's fought more jools than you've been sicond at. Me friend Macrorie and I'll manage it to shoot oursilves--so we will." "Ye can't give the word yersilves," said McGinty. "An' what do we want of a word, thin?" said O'Halloran. "To foire by," said McGinty.