'What a heavenly morning the scoundrels have,--not a leaf stirring, and a sod like a billiard-table!' "Meanwhile the little man who officiated as second, it would appear to _both_ parties, bustled about with an activity little congenial to his shape; and what between snapping the pistols, examining the flints, and ramming down the charges, had got himself into a sufficient perspiration before he commenced to measure the ground.
"'Short distance and no quarter!' shouted one of the combatants, from the corner of the field.
"'Across a handkerchief, if you like!' roared the other.
"'Gentlemen, every inch of them!' responded my father.
"'Twelve paces!' cried the little man.

'No more and no less.

Don't forget that I am alone in this business!' "'A very true remark!' observed my father; 'and an awkward predicament yours will be if they are not both shot!' "By this time the combatants had taken their places, and the little man, having delivered the pistols, was leisurely retiring to give the word.
My father, however, whose critical eye was never at fault, detected a circumstance which promised an immense advantage to one at the expense of the other; in fact, one of the parties was so placed with his back to the sun, that his shadow extended in a straight line to the very foot of his antagonist.
"'Unfair, unfair!' cried my father, opening the window as he spoke, and addressing himself to him of the rabbit-skin.

'I crave your pardon for the interruption,' said he; 'but I feel bound to observe that that gentleman's shadow is likely to make a shade of him.' "'And so it is,' observed the short man; 'a thousand thanks for your kindness, but the truth is, I am totally unaccustomed to this kind of thing, and the affair will not admit of delay.' "'Not an hour!' said one.
"'No, not five minutes!' growled the other of the combatants.
"'Put them up north and south,' said my father.
"'Is it thus ?' "'Exactly so.

But now, again, the gentleman in the brown coat is covered with the ash-tree.' "'And so he is!' said rabbit-skin, wiping his forehead with agitation.
"'Move them a little to the left,' said he.
"'That brings me upon an eminence,' said the gentleman in blue.