Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Wayne County, Ind.) 1831-1837, 1836-12-03

- ham Of as hold family as hany in tn
country,' replied MIR. EsthuPp, now backet
by the boatswain; many the year did l vail
Bond street, and ave as good blood IN my
veins as you Mr.. Heasy, halthough av,
\ been misf0rtunate-pve ad hadmirals in my
family
! you have grossly insulted this gentleman,
said Mr.. Biggs, in continuation; and not
withstanding all your talk Of equality, you arr
yourself under your quarter deck
Mr.. Biggs,' replied our hero, who was nov
very wroth, Il shall go on shore directly W.
arrive at Malta. Let you and this fellow
put on plain clothes; and will meet you both
and then I'll show you whether am afraid
to give you satisfaction
'One at a time said the boatswain.'
mo, sir, not one at time, but both at the
same time-i will fight both or none. Il
you are my superior officer, you must de
scend,' replied Jack, with an ironical sheer
that fellow, whom believe to have been lit.
tie better than a pickpocket.'
This accidental hit of Jacks made the pur-
lser's steward turn pale a sheet, and then
equally red. He raved and foamed amazing
Ily, although he could not meet Jacks indig-
nant look, who then turned round again.
Now, Mr.. Biggs, is this to be understood,
or do you shelter yourself under the .forecas-
tier
Il am no dodger,' replied the boatswain,
sand we will settle the affair at Malta
Mr.. Biggs having declared that he would
fight, of course had to look out for a second,
and he fixed upon Mr.. Tallboys, the gunner,
and requested him to be his friend. Mr..
Tallboys, who had been latterly very much
annoyed by Jacks victories over him in the
science of navigation, and therefore, felt i'll.
will towards him, consented; but he was very
much puzzled how to arrange that three were
to fight at the same time, for he had no idea
of there being but two duels, so he went to
his cabin and commenced reading. Jack on
the other hand. dared not say a word to Jol-
life on the subject; indeed, there was no one
in the ship in whom he could confde but
Gascoigne; he, therefore, went to him, and
although Gascoigne tho't it excessively mira
the challenge had been given, there was no
He, therefore, consented, like
all midshipmen, anticipating fun, and quite
thoughtless Of the consequences.
The second day after they had been anchor
ed at Valettc harbor, the boatswain and gun
ner, Jack and Gascoigne, obtained permission
to 60 on shore. Mr.. Esthupp, the purscr's
steward, dressed in his best blue coat with
brass buttons and velvet collar, the very one
in which he had been taken up when he had
been vowing and protesting that he was a
gentleman, and at the very time that his hand
was abstracting pocket-book, went up on
the quarter deck, and requested the same in
diligence, but Mr.. Sawbridge refused, as he
required him to return slaves and hoops at
the coopcrage. Mesty, also, much to his
modification was not to be spared.
This was awkward, but it was got over by
proposing that the meeting should take place
behind the cooperagc at a certain hour, on
which Mr.. Esthupp might slip out and borrow
a portion Of his time appropriated to his duty,
to heal the breach in his wounded honor
So the parties all went on shore, and put up
at one Of the the small inns to make the ne
cessary arrangements.
Mr.. Tallboys then addressed Mr.. Gas
coigne, taking him apart while the boatswain
amused himself with glass of grog, and our
hero sat outside teasing monkey.
MIR. Gascoigne, said the gunner, Il have
Deen very much puzzled how this duel should
be fought. but have ut last found it OUT
You see that there are three parties to the
fight; had there been two or four, there
would have been no difficulty, as the right
line or square might guide us in that instance; ;
but we must arrange it upon the triangle in
this
Gascoigne stared; he could not imagine
what was coming.
Are you aware, Mr.. Gascoigae, Of the
Of an equilateral triang:er
Yes replied the midshipman, 1T has three
equal sides-bu: what the devil has that to
do with the duelv
Everything, Mr.. Gascoigne,' replied the
gunner; 1T has solved the great difficulty; in
deed the duel between three can only be
fought on that principle. You OBSERVE said
the gunner, taking piece Of chalk out Of his
pocket, and making triangle on the table,
'in this figure we have three points, each
equi-d;stant from each other; and we have
three combatants-so that placing one at
each point, it is all fair play for the three; ;
Mr.. Easy, for instance, stands here, and the
boatswain here, and the purser's steward az
the third corner. Now, if the distance isl
fairly measured. IT will be all riU,,t.,