按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the bullets pattering about him like spiteful rain； thudding into the palm
trunks； or glancing off in whining ricochets。 The last bullet of all；
making a double ricochet from two different trees and losing most of its
momentum； struck Sheldon a sharp blow on the forehead and dropped at
his feet。 He was partly stunned for the moment； but on investigation
found no greater harm than a nasty lump that soon rose to the size of a
pigeon's egg。
The hunt went on。 Once； coming to the edge of the grove near the
bungalow； he saw the house…boys and the cook； clustered on the back
veranda and peering curiously among the trees； talking and laughing with
one another in their queer falsetto voices。 Another time he came upon a
working…gang busy at hoeing weeds。 They scarcely noticed him when he
came up； though they knew thoroughly well what was going on。 It was
no affair of theirs that the enigmatical white men should be out trying to
kill each other； and whatever interest in the proceedings might be theirs
they were careful to conceal it from Sheldon。 He ordered them to
continue hoeing weeds in a distant and out…of…the…way corner； and went on
with the pursuit of Tudor。
Tiring of the endless circling； Sheldon tried once more to advance
directly on his foe； but the latter was too crafty； taking advantage of his
boldness to fire a couple of shots at him； and slipping away on some
changed and continually changing course。 For an hour they dodged and
turned and twisted back and forth and around； and hunted each other
among the orderly palms。 They caught fleeting glimpses of each other
and chanced flying shots which were without result。 On a grassy shelter
behind a tree； Sheldon came upon where Tudor had rested and smoked a
195
… Page 196…
ADVENTURE
cigarette。 The pressed grass showed where he had sat。 To one side lay
the cigarette stump and the charred match which had lighted it。 In front
lay a scattering of bright metallic fragments。 Sheldon recognized their
significance。 Tudor was notching his steel…jacketed bullets； or cutting
them blunt； so that they would spread on strikingin short； he was making
them into the vicious dum…dum prohibited in modern warfare。 Sheldon
knew now what would happen to him if a bullet struck his body。 It
would leave a tiny hole where it entered； but the hole where it emerged
would be the size of a saucer。
He decided to give up the pursuit； and lay down in the grass； protected
right and left by the row of palms； with on either hand the long avenue
extending。 This he could watch。 Tudor would have to come to him or
else there would be no termination of the affair。 He wiped the sweat from
his face and tied the handkerchief around his neck to keep off the stinging
gnats that lurked in the grass。 Never had he felt so great a disgust for the
thing called 〃adventure。〃 Joan had been bad enough； with her Baden…
Powell and long…barrelled Colt's； but here was this newcomer also looking
for adventure； and finding it in no other way than by lugging a peace…
loving planter into an absurd and preposterous bush…whacking duel。 If
ever adventure was well damned； it was by Sheldon； sweating in the
windless grass and fighting gnats； the while he kept close watch up and
down the avenue。
Then Tudor came。 Sheldon happened to be looking in his direction at
the moment he came into view； peering quickly up and down the avenue
before he stepped into the open。 Midway he stopped； as if debating what
course to pursue。 He made a splendid mark； facing his concealed enemy
at two hundred yards' distance。 Sheldon aimed at the centre of his chest；
then deliberately shifted the aim to his right shoulder； and； with the
thought； 〃That will put him out of business；〃 pulled the trigger。 The
bullet； driving with momentum sufficient to perforate a man's body a mile
distant； struck Tudor with such force as to pivot him； whirling him half
around by the shock of its impact and knocking him down。
〃'Hope I haven't killed the beggar；〃 Sheldon muttered aloud； springing
to his feet and running forward。
196
… Page 197…
ADVENTURE
A hundred feet away all anxiety on that score was relieved by Tudor；
who made shift with his left hand； and from his automatic pistol hurled a
rain of bullets all around Sheldon。 The latter dodged behind a palm trunk；
counting the shots； and when the eighth had been fired he rushed in on the
wounded man。 He kicked the pistol out of the other's hand； and then sat
down on him in order to keep him down。
〃Be quiet；〃 he said。 〃I've got you； so there's no use struggling。〃
Tudor still attempted to struggle and to throw him off。
〃Keep quiet； I tell you；〃 Sheldon commanded。 〃I'm satisfied with the
outcome； and you've got to be。 So you might as well give in and call this
affair closed。〃
Tudor reluctantly relaxed。
〃Rather funny； isn't it； these modern duels？〃 Sheldon grinned down
at him as he removed his weight。 〃Not a bit dignified。 If you'd
struggled a moment longer I'd have rubbed your face in the earth。 I've a
good mind to do it anyway； just to teach you that duelling has gone out of
fashion。 Now let us see to your injuries。〃
〃You only got me that last；〃 Tudor grunted sullenly； 〃lying in ambush
like〃
〃Like a wild Indian。 Precisely。 You've caught the idea； old man。〃
Sheldon ceased his mocking and stood up。 〃You lie there quietly until I
send back some of the boys to carry you in。 You're not seriously hurt；
and it's lucky for you I didn't follow your example。 If you had been
struck with one of your own bullets； a carriage and pair would have been
none too large to drive through the hole it would have made。 As it is；
you're drilled cleana nice little perforation。 All you need is antiseptic
washing and dressing； and you'll be around in a month。 Now take it easy；
and I'll send a stretcher for you。〃