The darkness prevented Teddy's discovering anything more than his enemy's outline But this was enough for a shot to do its work.

Teddy cautiously brought his rifle to his shoulder, and lifted the hammer.
Pointing it at the breast of his adversary, so as to be sure of his aim, he pulled the trigger, but there was no response.

The gun either was unloaded, or had been injured by its rough usage.

The dull click of the lock reached the ear of the target, who asked, in a low, gruff voice: "Why do _you_ seek me?
You and I have no quarrel." "A purty question, ye murtherin' haythen! I'll settle with yees, if yees only come down here like a man.

Jist play the wolf and belave me a sheep, and come down here for your supper." [Illustration: "A purty question, ye murtherin haythen!"] "My quarrel is not with you, I tell you, but with your psalm-singing _master_--" "And ain't that _meself_ ?" interrupted Teddy.