Всадник без головы

Chapter 20

           "WhatafinecountryyouintendTexastobecome!Isupposeamanmustn’tfight,howevermuchaggrieved,withoutfirstobtainingalicencefromMajorRingwood?Isthattobethelawoftheland?"

           "Notabitofit,"retortedthemajor."I’mnotthemanneverwastostandinthewayofthehonestadjustmentofaquarrel.Youshallbequiteatlibertyyouandyourantagonisttokilloneanother,ifitsopleaseyou.Butnotjustnow.Youmustperceive,MrCalhoun,thatyoursportendangersthelivesofotherpeople,whohavenottheslightestinterestinit.I’venoideaofbeingboredbyabulletnotintendedforme.Waittilltherestofuscanwithdrawtoasafedistance;andyoumaycrackawaytoyourheart’scontent.Now,sir,willthatbeagreeabletoyou?"

           Hadthemajorbeenamanofordinarycharacterhiscommandsmighthavebeendisregarded.Buttohisofficialweight,aschiefofficerofthepost,wasaddedacertainreverenceduetoseniorityinagealongwithrespectforonewhowashimselfknowntowieldaweaponwithdangerousskill,andwhoallowednotrillingwithhisauthority.

           Hissabrehadnotbeenunsheathedbywayofemptygesticulation.Thedisputantsknewit;andbysimultaneousconsentloweredthemuzzlesoftheirpistolsstillholdingtheminhand.

           Calhounstood,withsullenbrow,grittinghisteeth,likeabeastofpreymomentarilywithheldfrommakingattackuponitsvictim;whilethemustangerappearedtotakethingsascoollyasifneitherangry,noranIrishman.

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