All righty, well here's the next part. Not terribly long, but it is here. And after this I fear I must take another break because I don't think I can finish the next part before my vacation. But it's only two weeks and I will need something to do on the plane. So, please read and review! Enjoy.
The cliff was some distance from the harbour, but it's rocky top still looked over the ocean. Looking out across the vast blue space, stood the four figures illuminated by the quarter risen sun; Jack, Heneage, Mr Howard the marine and one of the Surprise's cabin boys. The boy held a box containing a pistol.
Jack looked down at his watch again. 'I should have expected the man to be late,' he grumbled.
'Jack, are you sure you wish to continue this?' Heneage asked, then glanced down the road and caught sight of a coach coming towards them. 'There he comes.'
'Stephen would duel him if he was here,' Jack nodded, his decision standing final.
Mr. Robert White was Hunter's second. A rather small man with a limp, he was also a veteran of the army, though a seemingly better gentleman than Hunter. Also in this party was the local doctor, William Thomas. It would be Dr Thomas who would oversee the duel.
'Gentleman,' Thomas started, 'Unless one of you wishes to withdrawal, we shall begin?'
'I do not wish to withdrawal; I am not a coward' Hunter said with a cocky tone, looking over at Jack.
Jack straightened his shoulders, 'Nor do I.'
'Very well,' said Thomas, 'I will inspect both weapons first.'
White carried Hunter's pistol. Both weapons were in prime condition, though there was little doubt that Hunter's had never been used, but certainly Jack's had. Nodding, Thomas set the paces; twenty being the standard number.
'This is your last chance to take back your statements with an apology, sir,' said Jack, taking the pistol from Heneage.
Hunter snorted, 'Never.'
Sighing, Dr Thomas placed his hands behind his back, standing back five paces and facing both men. 'Very well,' he said again, 'I shall count to three, then you shall both be allowed one shot at the same time.' He paused a moment before counting slowly, 'One...'
Hunter raised his pistol and cocked it, aiming with one eye at Jack. It wasn't a particularly warm day, but Hunter was sweating. He had never been in a duel, so far he managed to hold his own, but he was afraid yet too proud to apologize.
The sound of the pistol cocking was familiar to Jack's ears as he aimed as well, standing on the top of the rocky cliff in his shirt and breeches. His face was completely calm, no sign of fear.
'Two...'
There was another pause and it seemed to Jack that the seconds slowed to minutes. He was vaguely aware of a sound; the loud crack of a pistol. Then a great force on his side. His finger automatically pulled the trigger and all the world returned to its normal speed. Hunter dropped to the ground and both Dr Thomas and White rushed over.
Jack was suddenly aware of the great pain in his side; he must have been shot. Heneage was there at his side, keeping him steady. 'Doctor,' Heneage said as Dr Thomas stood, shrugging his shoulders.
'It's no good,' Thomas said, looking down at Hunter.
'Doctor!' Heneage urged.
Dr Thomas looked over and shook his head, 'I cannot see to him, it was an unfair match. Both shots came before the call and it's too close to tell.'
'An unfair match!' Heneage shot back, 'Hunter bloody shot first!' Receiving no response from Thomas, Heneage turned to Howard, 'Find Doctor Maturin. Quickly, man!'
To my reviewers:
Jevvica – eep! Sorry, another one. hides from wrath of review but not for long, dear Stephen will come to the rescue.
Stephen - pokes and looks innocent but wouldn't Little Jack like that? Since he can sloth around in my cabin and hang from the ceiling. Haha, yeah, huzzah for Hen!
Sweet A.K. – well thank you. I hope you like this part.
Huntress16 – haha, thanks. And yes he is. Awww pats Jack on the head good boy. Actually, I probably wouldn't be able to reach that high. Oh well.
The cliff was some distance from the harbour, but it's rocky top still looked over the ocean. Looking out across the vast blue space, stood the four figures illuminated by the quarter risen sun; Jack, Heneage, Mr Howard the marine and one of the Surprise's cabin boys. The boy held a box containing a pistol.
Jack looked down at his watch again. 'I should have expected the man to be late,' he grumbled.
'Jack, are you sure you wish to continue this?' Heneage asked, then glanced down the road and caught sight of a coach coming towards them. 'There he comes.'
'Stephen would duel him if he was here,' Jack nodded, his decision standing final.
Mr. Robert White was Hunter's second. A rather small man with a limp, he was also a veteran of the army, though a seemingly better gentleman than Hunter. Also in this party was the local doctor, William Thomas. It would be Dr Thomas who would oversee the duel.
'Gentleman,' Thomas started, 'Unless one of you wishes to withdrawal, we shall begin?'
'I do not wish to withdrawal; I am not a coward' Hunter said with a cocky tone, looking over at Jack.
Jack straightened his shoulders, 'Nor do I.'
'Very well,' said Thomas, 'I will inspect both weapons first.'
White carried Hunter's pistol. Both weapons were in prime condition, though there was little doubt that Hunter's had never been used, but certainly Jack's had. Nodding, Thomas set the paces; twenty being the standard number.
'This is your last chance to take back your statements with an apology, sir,' said Jack, taking the pistol from Heneage.
Hunter snorted, 'Never.'
Sighing, Dr Thomas placed his hands behind his back, standing back five paces and facing both men. 'Very well,' he said again, 'I shall count to three, then you shall both be allowed one shot at the same time.' He paused a moment before counting slowly, 'One...'
Hunter raised his pistol and cocked it, aiming with one eye at Jack. It wasn't a particularly warm day, but Hunter was sweating. He had never been in a duel, so far he managed to hold his own, but he was afraid yet too proud to apologize.
The sound of the pistol cocking was familiar to Jack's ears as he aimed as well, standing on the top of the rocky cliff in his shirt and breeches. His face was completely calm, no sign of fear.
'Two...'
There was another pause and it seemed to Jack that the seconds slowed to minutes. He was vaguely aware of a sound; the loud crack of a pistol. Then a great force on his side. His finger automatically pulled the trigger and all the world returned to its normal speed. Hunter dropped to the ground and both Dr Thomas and White rushed over.
Jack was suddenly aware of the great pain in his side; he must have been shot. Heneage was there at his side, keeping him steady. 'Doctor,' Heneage said as Dr Thomas stood, shrugging his shoulders.
'It's no good,' Thomas said, looking down at Hunter.
'Doctor!' Heneage urged.
Dr Thomas looked over and shook his head, 'I cannot see to him, it was an unfair match. Both shots came before the call and it's too close to tell.'
'An unfair match!' Heneage shot back, 'Hunter bloody shot first!' Receiving no response from Thomas, Heneage turned to Howard, 'Find Doctor Maturin. Quickly, man!'
To my reviewers:
Jevvica – eep! Sorry, another one. hides from wrath of review but not for long, dear Stephen will come to the rescue.
Stephen - pokes and looks innocent but wouldn't Little Jack like that? Since he can sloth around in my cabin and hang from the ceiling. Haha, yeah, huzzah for Hen!
Sweet A.K. – well thank you. I hope you like this part.
Huntress16 – haha, thanks. And yes he is. Awww pats Jack on the head good boy. Actually, I probably wouldn't be able to reach that high. Oh well.