A feeling of shock hit Mr Winkle. Suddenly he was certain that making his friend worried about him was not going to help at all. It was very clear that he was definitely about to become a human target.

Everything which had happened until then was properly explained to Mr Snodgrass. Then they hired a box of satisfactory pistols, with the gunpowder and bullets to go with them from a gun-maker in Rochester.

After that the two friends returned to their inn; Mr Winkle to think hard about the approaching battle, and Mr Snodgrass to arrange the weapons of war, and put them into proper working order.

It was a dark and cloudy evening when they left the inn again in order to do their difficult job. Mr Winkle was completely wrapped up in a huge cloak so no-one could recognize him. Mr Snodgrass carried under his cloak the pistols for the duel.

'Have you got everything?' said Mr Winkle, sounding worried and upset.

'Everything,' replied Mr Snodgrass; 'plenty of bullets, in case the first shots miss. There's a quarter of a pound of gunpowder in the box, and I have got two newspapers in my pocket to pack the bullets into the pistol.'