Botts closed and bolted the door, and then earnestly asked,--
"You certainly did not agree that I should fight Captain Bragg with a broad-axe?"
"No, indeed!" said Wiggins. "With much difficulty I obtained from Mr. Belton a compromise."
"What sort of a compromise?" asked Botts.
"You are to fight with just such weapons as Belton produces on the ground."
"And not to know what they are to be until I get on the field?"
"Such is the agreement," said the second.
"Wiggins, what sort of terms are these?" exclaimed Botts.
"They were the best I could obtain. My opinion is, that this Captain Bragg, although he associates with gentlemen, is little better than a desperado. He has lived among savages the greater part of his life, and, as I am told, has been boasting of having fought a duel with a boomerang, or a harpoon, or something of the sort. He is a reckless and desperate man, and cares not for consequences. Had I not agreed to the compromise proposed by his second, I am confident that he would have posted you as a coward."
"These are hard terms," said Botts; "but I suppose they must be accepted."
"They have been accepted," said Wiggins. "And now I must leave you, Mr. Botts, for I have an engagement with a fair lady. At an hour before daybreak I will be at your room; and we will, of course, proceed in company to the ground."
In the solitude of his chamber, Botts began to give way to gloomy reflections. It was evident that his antagonist was a most desperate and determined man. He had lived among savages and cannibals, and the proposal to fight with broad-axes was ample proof of the barbarity of his disposition. And Wiggins had consented that Botts should come on the ground in entire ignorance of the weapons to be used. Could it be doubted that his adversary would select some barbarous implement of butchery, familiar to himself but unknown to civilized duelists? When the challenger took his position, a harpoon or a boomerang might be thrust into his hand; or Bragg might enter the field armed with a tomahawk and scalping-knife, and raising the war-whoop. Botts was a brave man, but he shuddered and shivered as if an icicle had been thrust down his back. He saw that death was inevitable, and he resolved to die with decency. Having procured writing materials, he carefully prepared his last will and testament, and proceeded to execute it with the proper formalities. He then wrote a number of letters to absent friends, bidding them a final and affectionate farewell. Those documents he carefully sealed with black wax, and left lying on his table.