Free Ole Devil at San Jacinto (Old Devil Hardin Western Book 4) by J.T. Edson

smoothly flowing motion, the youngster’s weapon came up in
an almost spasmodic jerk.
    Before Dumoulin could take any kind of aim,
in fact only chance was causing the barrel to point in Ole Devil’s
direction, his right forefinger twitched involuntarily. Slight as
the gesture was, it proved sufficient to operate the light pull of
the trigger. To his horror, he saw the hammer begin to snap
forward.
    There was a sharp crack as the pistol’s
firing charge was detonated!
    Gushing from the muzzle, the whitish gases
of the burned powder obscured Dumoulin’s target. In spite of that,
his every instinct warned him that he could not have made a
hit.
    An instant later, as the cloud drifted away,
the youngster found that his supposition was correct!
    Dumoulin realized that nothing could save
him from the Mephistophelian-featured Texian’s response.
    Nor was a man of Ole Devil Hardin’s ability
likely to miss!
    No spurt of smoke and flame erupted from the
muzzle of the Texian’s pistol as a warning that a swiftly flying
portion of lead had already been emitted.
    Instead, showing not the slightest concern
over having a bullet pass by very close to his head, Ole Devil
continued to swing the pistol around until it was held behind his
back.
    ‘ J’ai
oubli e!’ the Texian announced and repeated it in English, ‘I have
forgotten.’
    For a moment, Dumoulin was numbed by a
mixture of amazement and relief. At first, he could not appreciate
what was happening. Then an understanding flooded through him. It
was followed by a feeling of gratitude towards his adversary. By
acting in such a manner, Captain Hardin was offering a way by which
the duel could be brought to an end without the need for any
further exchange of shots. What was more, the youngster knew that
he could now withdraw with honor.
    In the hope of preventing
frivolous and trivial challenges and to make opponents realize that
a duel was a matter of life and death, every convention, and the
Clonmel Code in particular, prohibited deliberately firing to miss
an adversary. xviii It did happen, of course, but there
was a more dignified and honorable means if one had no desire to
injure one’s opponent. By placing the pistol behind the back and
declaring, ‘J’ai oublie,’ the duelist displayed his intentions in a manner
which left no doubt as to their interpretation.
    ‘ Wh —!’ Pierre-Quint gasped, watching Ole Devil hand the
discharged pistol to Tommy Okasi and retrieve his own weapons.
‘What—?’
    ‘ Shots have been exchanged,’
Hallistead answered, and there was just a hint of relief in his
voice. ‘Honor is now satisfied and the affair is over.’
    ‘ Over?’ the Creole yelped, but the
entertainer was already walking away. So, scowling furiously, he
strode towards Dumoulin and Jaloux.
    By the time Hallistead joined his
companions, Ole Devil had sheathed the bowie knife and was
returning the pistol to its loop on the belt.
    ‘ You handled that with the
kind of foresight and acumen which I expected of you, if I may so
say, sir,’ the entertainer praised. ‘However, the gentlemen from New Orleans may
not be in concurrence.’
    ‘ They’d better be,’ Ole
Devil growled, glancing to where the Creoles were talking, gesticulating to their
principal. ‘I’m in no mood to go on with this damned
farce.’
    ‘ Could I
suggest we make it appear that we are taking our departure?’
Hallistead asked. ‘That should provoke them into declaring their
intentions.’
    ‘ Let’s do that,’ Ole Devil agreed and
the entertainer felt he would rather not be in the other party’s
shoes if they did raise any objections.
    ‘ Hey there!’ Pierre-Quint
shouted, seeing the three men turning as if meaning to leave the
hollow. Stalking forward with Jaloux at his side, they were
followed by Dumoulin who was still carrying the empty pistol. ‘We
haven’t finished yet. There must be another shot.’
    ‘ Like hell there must!’
Ole Devil spinning around and stepping away