Death was denounced; that frightful sound Which even the best can hardly bear, He took the summons void of fear; And unconcern'dly cast his eyes around; As if to find and dare the grisly challenger.

The short, black-bearded man in buckskin breeches on his right was Jean-Baptiste Grandissime, and the slight one on the left, who, with the prettiest and most graceful gestures and balancings, was leading the conversation, was Hippolyte Brahmin-Mandarin, a cousin and counterpart of that sturdy-hearted challenger of Agricola, Sylvestre.

At lengthfor some limitation would have been agreed uponthe challenger would play his cards, and the opponents would "pull at his rest"try to break down his hand.