I had not felt any before; but it seemed to me that I was accumulating a great and valuable reputation at no expense, and my delight in this grew and grew, as challenge after challenge was declined, until by midnight I was beginning to think that there was nothing in the world so much to be desired as a chance to fight a duel.

So I hurried Daggett up; made him keep on sending challenge after challenge.

Oh, well, I overdid it; Laird accepted.

I might have known that that would happen--Laird was a man you couldn't depend on.
The boys were jubilant beyond expression.

They helped me make my will, which was another discomfort--and I already had enough.