Upon our return to Walker's quarters, the , who had been working hard all day, at once . I remained up long enough to load my pistols, and write, first, a farewell letter to my lady, and second, a note to my friend explaining that I was to start early on a coach ride with Malgares. This I left with old Cæsar, whom Walker had already instructed to rouse us before dawn.  
Faithful to orders, the old black had us out a good hour before sunrise, and a biscuit and pot of chocolate ready for our . We dressed and ate and made off, leaving Pike still fast asleep. Walker fetched his horse from the stables in the rear of the courtyard, and conducted me as far as the street. The expected coach was just wheeling into sight, preceded by a pair of outriders with torches, for the night was as black as Egypt.
 
At once Walker sprang into the saddle and rode off through the gloom to join his principal, while I ran up to the coach and slipped in beside Malgares. With that the carriage swung about and off along the first street which led . Having taken possession of my pistols and loading , Malgares asked if I had any word to be given to Señorita Vallois, in the event of any misfortune. I handed him the letter, with the request that it be returned to me if all went well.
 
"For her sake, you must see that it does go well!" he urged.
 
"It is for her I fight. In any event, I must have struck him for what he said. For whether or not it is true General Wilkinson is or has been a , in the pay of your Government, Lieutenant Medina intended his remark as a deliberate insult. But we are alike aware that it is because of the señorita we now meet."
 
"God grant that for her sake you may win!—You will win, amigo!" exclaimed my friend; and with that, to divert my thoughts, he fell to chatting about various light subjects.
 
Presently the coach turned , and, after a time, southward. The gray dawn now broke the darkness, and the outriders, at an order from our coach-man, flung down their torches and rode back into the city. The ruddy gleams of the full dawn shot swiftly up the sky. Our driver put the to his horses, and we along through a cloud of dust, in a race with the sun.
 
Just as the upper of the blazing of day peered over the low mountains to the eastward, the coach drew up beneath one of the immense arches of the aqueduct. Malgares caught up the two cutlasses, which had lain beside him in a wrapping of buckskin, and sprang out to meet Walker, who was advancing from around the corner of the massive aqueduct . They bowed and exchanged a few words, and Malgares, having handed the swords to Walker, came back to the coach.
 
"Permit me to assist you in removing your hat, , coat, and waistcoat," he said.
 
I stripped to my shirt, delighted to be freed of the garments.
 
"We meet on the east side of the pier," he explained; and taking my arm, he led me beneath the arch to the corner.
 
A step around brought us face to face with Walker and Medina. Their horses, with the thrown over head upon the ground after the custom of the country, stood at a little distance, cropping the dry grass. The ground for several paces alongside and out from the pier was smooth and of a firm, dry, gritty earth. Medina, who had stripped in the same fashion as myself, was looking at the cutlasses, which Walker was holding up to his view.
 
When we turned the corner, Medina immediately stepped back half a dozen paces, with a readiness that showed his experience in the formalities of the code duello. Malgares left me and stepped forward beside Walker. They first measured and examined the cutlasses, then exchanged a few words in a low tone. Medina cast an impatient glance at the sun, which was now clearing the horizon.
 
Malgares raised his hand, and stated, first to Medina, then to me: "The principals will take position, at sword's-length, facing as at present. At the word, 'On guard!' given by Lieutenant Walker, they will begin action. At the word 'Arreste!' by either second, the principals will instantly cease action. Señor, do you comprehend?"
 
"Si, señor," replied Medina.
 
"Si, señor," I answered, in turn.
 
We were each handed a cutlass, and led up within striking distance. Malgares and Walker drew back three paces.
 
"On guard!" cried Walker, in a thin, high voice.
 
Instantly I dropped almost to the ground and made a long-armed sweep at my opponent's knee. He leaped back barely in time to save himself from being hamstrung.
 
"Arreste!" Walker, springing between us.
 
I rose and stood back, staring from him to Malgares.
 
"What now?" I demanded.
 
"That is not fencing," protested Walker.
 
"No. It is fighting," I retorted.
 
Walker wheeled about and exchanged whispers with his principal. He turned again, to address Malgares: "My principal demands that the shall be according to the rules of swordsmanship."
 
"Enough!" I exclaimed. "If he wishes me to stand , I will stand erect. Only do not again interrupt."
 
"Very well," replied Walker, and stepping aside, he for the second time gave the signal: "On guard!"
 
I whirled up my cutlass. Medina stabbed at my heart. For all the quickness with which I to the right, his point full through my left arm. But already my sword was in a stroke, and the fierce sting of my wound gave all the more force to the blow. Medina tore free his blade and whirled it up between my descending cutlass and his head. But for his quickness, I believe I should have split his to the chin.
 
Given a fraction of a second more time, he, being so skilled a swordsman, might even have glanced my stroke, despite its weight. As it was, the edge of my blade caught the flat of his at a square angle, and drove it down upon his head close above the temple. He fell like a beneath the poleaxe, while my sword blade broke clean off, a span beyond the hilt, and whirred down upon the dry soil.
 
"Dios!" cried Malgares.
 
"Arreste!" shrilled Walker, springing to stoop over the fallen man. "Sacre! I thought him dead. He is only ."
 
In of this, Medina stirred, opened his eyes, and, assisted by Walker, staggered to his feet.
 
"Señor Walker," demanded Malgares, "as your principal is the challenger, I now ask if he is satisfied."
 
Medina muttered something in the ear of Walker, who replied to the : "Señor, we contend that, so far, the honors are even. My principal has been stunned, yours wounded. By the time Señor Robinson's injury is bound up, Lieutenant Medina will have recovered a clear head."
 
"The sword of my principal is broken," objected Malgares, as he producing the bandage I had provided. No having been , there was no need of a , and he bound up the wound during the discussion.
 
Walker consulted Medina, and replied: "We hold that each principal was given a sword of equal quality, and that the duel must continue until the matter is settled."
............