"It was inDADE," said Culkins; "I did not think it of the
low-lived scoundrel!"

The word was again given. Crack went both pistols
simultaneously. The smoke slowly cleared away, and the
principals were discovered standing stock-still. The silence and
stillness for a moment were awful. No one moved. Soon Smith was
seen to reel and then to slowly fall. His second and the surgeon
rushed to him. Culkins made a tremendous effort to fly from the
field, but was restrained by his seconds.

"The honor of the Culkinses," he roared, "is untarnished--why the
divil won't yez let me go? H--ll's blazes, men, will yez be
after giving me over to the bailiffs? Docther, Docther!" he
shouted, "is he mortally wounded?"

The Doctor said he could not tell--that he was wounded in the
shoulder--that a carriage would be sent for and the wounded man
taken to his house. Here a heart-rending groan came from Smith,
and Culkins, with a Donnybrook shriek, burst from his seconds,
knocked over the doctor's lantern, and fled towards the town like
greased lightning amidst a chorus of excited voices.

"Hold him!"

"Stop him!"

"Grab him by the coat-tails!"

"Shoot him!"