The Price He Paid — page 295: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

286 THE DUEL, parley followed between the seeonds, then those gentlemen proceeded to make the necessary prepar- ations. | Max stood by his father, whose pale face and haggard eves told of a sleepless night, and who in vain strove to hide his feverish agitation. His lips were tightly set, and the hand his son held twitched every now and then with a nervous quiver. “Compose yourself, father,” Max whispered; “vour hand is so unsteady, you will hardly be able to press the trigger.” “No fear, I shall be able,” replied the doctor, in the same subdued voice, glancing at the pistols, which were at that moment being loaded by the seconds. “Colonel Wilten’s attention is already attracted this way,” said Max, significantly. “Will you let him think that you are thus agitated by fear ofa bullet?” Brunnow gave an angry start. “True,” he said. “The strangers present cannot guess what is passing withinme. They shall not, at least, take me- for a coward.” He made an effort to collect himself, and suc- ceeded in assuming a calmer demeanor; but he avoided glancing toward the spot where the baron stood. In his usual haughty attitude, with a look of cold determination on his features, Raven, quite unmoved, awaited the coming event. The mists began gradually to disperse; already the mountain summits and the villages on the higher lands came in sight. The sun must just have risen, for the whole eastern horizon was suffused with a red glow; as yet, however, the rays were not intense enough to fight a way through the thick vapor. Colonel Wilten now declared that all was ready, and the combatants stepped on to the ground. Raven stood well erect, his eye clear and full, the hand which held the pistol absolutely steady, as though certain of its aim. Brunnow’s composure was evidently forced, and sustained by a great effort. Though the approach of the decisive \ EoOmIichooks:co