Seating himself behind a heap of merchandise, Hatchie proceeded to examine the pistols by the light of a lantern which Pat had borrowed from the sleeping engineers.  The pistols were of the common pattern used in duelling.  Two of the three were mates; and Hatchie discovered, on examination, that neither of them were loaded with ball.  The third pistol, which contained two balls, was very similar in form and size to the pair.  Hatchie extracted the balls from this one, and loaded the pair with one ball each, leaving the unmatched one blank.  They then carefully conveyed them to Vernon’s state-room, and placed them on the trunk precisely as they had found them.

As had been premised, the Chalmetta arrived at Natchez about daylight.  Vernon, well acquainted with all its localities, led the parties of the duel to a retired place in the vicinity.  The distance was measured off, and the principals took the stations assigned them.

“Now be careful they do not see you do it,” said Vernon, in a low, careless tone.

The pistols were handed to the principals, the signal was given, and both fired nearly at the same instant.

“Confound it!” exclaimed Maxwell, dropping his pistol, and grasping the left arm, which had been hit by Henry’s ball.  “How does this happen?”

But Vernon was as much confounded by this unexpected result of the duel as his principal.  He had only time to protest that he had prepared the pistols as agreed upon, when Major Brunn arrived at the spot.

On examining the wounded man, it was found that the ball had struck the fleshy part of the arm.  The injury was very trifling.  Maxwell was much astonished at receiving a ball from his opponent’s pistol,—­a circumstance which was owing entirely to Hatchie’s precaution on the previous night.  He had overheard the plan by which Maxwell was to fire a ball at Henry, with no danger of receiving one in return.  Vernon had loaded the pair without ball, and the single pistol with two balls.  Henry was to select from the pair; the third was to be concealed upon the person of Maxwell, who was to use it instead of the blank.  Major Brunn, supposing Vernon to be a man of honor, had not insisted upon examining the charge in presence of both seconds, and thus everything had worked to the satisfaction of the confederates up to the time of the firing.  By Hatchie’s precaution, Henry held one of the two which were loaded with ball, while Maxwell had fired the blank.

Maxwell was, as may be supposed, vexed and disconcerted at the result of the duel; and, with an ill grace, he resolved to postpone his revenge to another time, inasmuch as he could not hope again to shoot at his foe in perfect safety.

The party returned to the steamer just in season for her departure.  Maxwell’s wound was examined by the surgeon, and pronounced very slight.  Henry was rejoiced at this intelligence, for the cold-blooded thoughts which had found a place in his heart had departed, and his naturally kind disposition resumed its sway.  He was glad that the affair had terminated without the loss of life; glad that his conscience was not burdened with the blood of a fellow-creature; glad, too, that he had escaped unhurt.  This last consideration was not a selfish one.  He felt that all the energy he possessed he should require in the restoration of her he so tenderly loved.