When the hammer snapped on the trigger he uttered a low cry of anger and hurled the useless weapon into the grass.

Then he whirled around and faced Dick, who was coming on, eager and panting.
Dick's own pistol was empty and he did not carry his small sword.

He stopped abruptly when the other turned, and, in the dim light and rain, he saw that his opponent was a young man or rather youth of about his own size and age.

When he saw the lad cast the pistol aside Dick, moved by some chivalrous impulse, dropped his own in the grass.
Then the two stared at each other.

They were far beyond the line of the pickets, and as they stood in the deep ravine there was no chance that any one would either see or hear them.