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The
crowd
,
thus
promiscuously
collected
,
was
not
in
close
proximity
with
the
hotel
;
but
standing
well
out
in
the
open
ground
,
about
a
dozen
yards
from
the
building
.
Towards
it
,
however
,
the
eyes
of
all
were
directed
,
with
that
steady
stare
which
tells
of
the
attention
being
fixed
on
some
engrossing
spectacle
.
They
were
watching
the
movements
of
two
men
,
whose
positions
were
apart
--
one
at
each
end
of
the
heavy
blockhouse
,
known
to
be
the
bar-room
of
the
hotel
;
and
where
,
as
already
stated
,
there
was
a
door
.
Though
separated
by
the
interposition
of
two
thick
log
walls
,
and
mutually
invisible
,
these
men
were
manoeuvring
as
if
actuated
by
a
common
impulse
.
They
stood
contiguous
to
the
entrance
doors
,
at
opposite
ends
of
the
bar-room
,
through
both
of
which
glared
the
light
of
the
camphine
lamps
--
falling
in
broad
divergent
bands
upon
the
rough
gravel
outside
.
Neither
was
in
front
of
the
contiguous
entrance
;
but
a
little
to
one
side
,
just
clear
of
the
light
.
Neither
was
in
an
upright
attitude
,
but
crouching
--
not
as
if
from
fear
,
but
like
a
runner
about
to
make
a
start
,
and
straining
upon
the
spring
.
Both
were
looking
inwards
--
into
the
saloon
,
where
no
sound
could
be
heard
save
the
ticking
of
a
clock
.
Their
attitudes
told
of
their
readiness
to
enter
it
,
and
that
they
were
only
restrained
by
waiting
for
some
preconcerted
signal
.
That
their
purpose
was
a
serious
one
could
be
deduced
from
several
circumstances
.
Both
were
in
their
shirt
sleeves
,
hatless
,
and
stripped
of
every
rag
that
might
form
an
impediment
to
action
;
while
on
their
faces
was
the
stamp
of
stern
determination
--
alike
legible
in
the
attitudes
they
had
assumed
.
But
there
was
no
fine
reflection
needed
to
discover
their
design
.
The
stranger
,
chancing
to
come
into
the
square
,
could
have
seen
at
a
glance
that
it
was
deadly
.
The
pistols
in
their
hands
,
cocked
and
tightly
clutched
;
the
nervous
energy
of
their
attitudes
;
the
silence
of
the
crowd
of
spectators
;
and
the
concentrated
interest
with
which
the
two
men
were
regarded
,
proclaimed
more
emphatically
than
words
,
that
there
was
danger
in
what
they
were
doing
--
in
short
,
that
they
were
engaged
in
some
sort
of
a
strife
,
with
death
for
its
probable
consummation
!
So
it
was
at
that
moment
when
the
crisis
had
come
.
The
duellists
stood
,
each
with
eye
intent
upon
the
door
,
by
which
he
was
to
make
entrance
--
perhaps
into
eternity
!
They
only
waited
for
a
signal
to
cross
the
threshold
;
and
engage
in
a
combat
that
must
terminate
the
existence
of
one
or
the
other
--
perhaps
both
.
Were
they
listening
for
that
fatal
formulary
:
--
One
--
two
--
fire
?
No
.
Another
signal
had
been
agreed
upon
;
and
it
was
given
.
A
stentorian
voice
was
heard
calling
out
the
simple
monosyllable
--
"
Ring
!
"
