The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1833-09-17
A DUEL.

ings, not unsual in Barbadocs at the mp
proach of the rainy season. A thick,
dense fog partially obscured the land
scape round, but which the newly risen
sun and the awakening sea breeze had
in part dissipatcd on the higher grounds,
obscurely revealing fragments of the
scenery in distorted and unsightly por-
tions. / advanced towards my quarters:
the fog became thicker and thicker, so
that it required person we'll versed in
the loca: geography of Crab Town to
be able to find his way. Finding my
self more and more at loss, struck in-
to the burying ground; by crossing which
knew ! must arrive ut the beaten road
between the garrison and the fort. ] was
winding my way carefully among the
graves, cautiously avoiding the prickly
pears and other tlorny shrubs that grew
scantily in the sand, between the ridges
that marked the resting places of the
| dead, when the sound Of two shots, frcd
in quick succession, struck upon my ear.
They were evidently discharged close at
hand; and stood in no enviable situa.
ton, for had clearly distinguished the
shrilI noise that bullet made in passing
close To my head; and as ] had heard
too many singing birds whistle by me
when on actual service not too be well
| acquainted with the sound, ! shouted
with all my strength in order that the
persons who discharged the shots should
cease firing, uaconsciously, and in my
haste, using the technical word of com.
mand. But ,lsc echoes Of my words had
not yet died away, when they were 40.
swered by REPETITION Of the same sounds;
but now no bullet whistled past for they
had reached their destination. At that
instant, the morning gun from the fort
was fred, and answered by the admira''s
Gag shin in the oay, followed by the
brisk aud Irrcg"iar discharges Of small
arms from tho marines on the ganways
Of the several men of war. The effect
Of heavy artillery on mists aud vapors is
well known. The thick smoke like clouds,
that hung over the sands slowly rolled
aside for moment in heavy folds. like
the Withdrawing Of n curtain, and again
closed, dnrkeniog and concealins the
surrounding objects; but brief as the in-
tervnl was, it had permitted me to disco
yer group Of figures, which might serve
as study for a painter, could the artist
be found hardened enough to gaze un-
moved on such a scene. Not twenty
yards from me, on the ground, lay two
officers, and IN :aa uniform Of my owa
regiment, the other in the uilS:ess OF a
naval captain, the surgeon and the sec
ond of each were stoe ping over their
friends, and black servant stood at a
trifing distance, in evident alarm; while
the smoke from their pistols still lowered
over the spot, in dark circles, struggling
to rise through the overhanging canopy
of mist. / hastencd 10 the spot one was
my brother officer, MIvor; the other was
the fighting c. plain Of the Elmira; both
mortnlIy wounded. The surgeons Of each,
after few moments of consultation, de-
clared the impractic ability of removing
either of them from the ground, as few
moments would most probably terminate
their existence; indeed from the pale
dcss and agony impressed on the features
Of Is, aud from The crimson food
which widely stained tho white sand be-
meath him, il was evident that the vital
spark was about to be extinguished. Not
so M'Ivor: his wound was in the chest,
and the bleeding was mostly internal.
He had risen upon one elbow; small
stream of blood flowed from between his
clencied teeth; but as his dark eye was
fixed stcrnly upon his PROSTATE antngO-
mist, his whole face was illuminated with
an expression Of exultation and delight,
| fsarfully ia contrast with his evident and
increasing weakness; and the brilliant
hue Of pleasure lit up those features, at
other times so pale and deatl'-liks. The
despairing sailor, in faultering and bro
ken accents, gasped out request to be
brought nearer to M'Ivor, that he might
grasp his hand and die forg,viug him.
A strange expression Of contempt play
ed on the bloodstained lips Of the latter,
as he heard this demand, and beheld the
surgeons assisting his adversary to ep-
proach him, With pain and difficulty
the dying man reached out his trembling
hand, aud the accents Of forgiveness
hung upon his lips when the young High
lander raised himself to sitting posture,
fercsly grarped the extended hand, and,
while a gush of blood accompanied ev-
cry word, exclaimed, in accents never 70
be eradicnted from my memory |;
"L-s, you are dying on the grave Of
my brother in law, poor Baldwin; hs
whom you murdered rots in the soil be-
meath you; but my sister Jessie M'Ivor,
she rests with her forbears, among the
green hills Of that native land ] shall
4 ,.~.r l,.hoII Won wroo0od n MsIvor--