 disorder, in quest of Peregrine, to beg his
further advice and assistance; but, understanding that the youth was engaged in
private with his adversary, he began to suspect some collusion, and cursed
himself for his folly and precipitation. He even entertained some thoughts of
retracting his invitation, and submitting to the triumph of his antagonist: but,
before he would stoop to this opprobrious condescension, he resolved to try
another expedient, which might be the means of saving both his character and
person. In this hope he visited Mr. Jolter, and very gravely desired he would be
so good as to undertake the office of his second, in a duel which he was to
fight that evening with the physician.
    The governor, instead of answering his expectation, in expressing fear and
concern, and breaking forth into exclamations of, »Good God! gentlemen, what
d'ye mean? You shall not murther one another, while it is in my power to prevent
your purpose. I will go directly to the governor of the place, who shall
interpose his authority.« I say, instead of these and other friendly menaces of
prevention, Jolter heard the proposal with the most phlegmatic tranquillity, and
excused himself from accepting the honour he intended for him, on account of his
character and situation, which would not permit him to be concerned in any such
rencounters. Indeed this mortifying reception was owing to a previous hint from
Peregrine, who dreading some sort of interruption from his governor, had made
him acquainted with his design, and assured him, that the affair should not be
brought to any dangerous issue.
    Thus disappointed, the dejected challenger was overwhelmed with perplexity
and dismay; and in the terrors of death or mutilation, resolved to deprecate the
wrath of his enemy, and conform to any submission he should propose; when he was
accidentally encountered by our adventurer, who with demonstrations of infinite
satisfaction, told him in confidence, that his billet had thrown the doctor into
an agony of consternation; and that his acceptance of his challenge was a meer
effort of despair, calculated to confound the ferocity of the sender, and
dispose him to listen to terms of accommodation that he had imparted the letter
to him with fear and trembling, on pretence of engaging him as a second, but in
reality, with a view of obtaining his good offices in promoting a
reconciliation; »but, perceiving the situation of his mind, (added our hero) I
thought it would be more for your honour to baffle his expectation; and
therefore I readily undertook the task of attending him to the field, in full
assurance
