The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-08-13

and thrust, good in a melee, and which will ans
swer indilerently well in duel---and the broal
sword or cutlass, which is often preferred by
those who are deficient IN skill in the use o
arms. My friend, Captain Bgbee, is equally
expert with either. You have only TO choose
AS the challenged party,you have an undoubtcd
right to select your arms
or that privilege am well aware replied
| Captain Lovett, 'and mean to avail myself of it.
shall not fight with swords
| Il expected as much, resumed Lieut. james
'and have brought with mea beautiful pair OF
dueIling pistols with long barrels, rifle bores
and hair triggers. What distance shall meas.
ure off @
Eight PAGES
Only eight PAGES : cried Lieut., James, lit
it off, and placed his man at his post. Then
advancing TO Captain Lovett, he presented him
with pistol.
Il do not fight with pistols =
Not fight with pstols-atter having refused
to fight with swords ? What brought you here
then p
ITO fight y shouted Lovett in laundering
voice, which made the British officers start. Il
am the challenged party, and have right TO
choose my weapons, according to the laws OF
the d,tellO, all the world overland you may rely
upon it shall not select weapons with which
am not familiar, and with which my antagonist
has been practising all his life Such proceed
rules of honor, which after ALL is IL mere chin
era, hut would be contrary to all the dictates of
common sense. Mo- shall fight with the
weapons of honorable warfare, with which i
have ever been accustomed. Swords aud piS.
tolls, indeed y
But, my dear SIR cried the astonisIed Lieut..
must proceed according 10 the rule o! bus
mess. What weapons have you fixed upon 2
And in ancy's eye he beheld before him huge
blunderhuss loaded with buck shot.
Captain Loveu said uothns-but beckoned
TO Mr. Starbuck, who approached him with great
alacrity, bearing the TWO harpoons He seized
one of the formidable weapons, and thrnst it in
TO the hands of Bigbee, who seemed absolutely
paraliZed with establishment.
'My weapon said he, lis the jauelin-Such
the Grecian and Roman knights often fought
with in olden times-a weapon, Which no man
who challenges another, can rGAiasc To fight with
at the present day, unless he possesses u mean
and craven spirit
Thus saying lie took the station which had
been assigned him, AT eight PAGES distant from
his startled antagonist. ilo coolly barred his
sinewy arin-grasped the harpoon, and placed
himself in an attitude. IN bet, said he, casting
IL triumphant look upon his iriends, "a smoked
herring against sperm whale, that III drive the
harpoun through that fellows midriH the first
,hrow-and will finish him without The aid OF
The lance. Nlr Smrbuck,' fercely continued
Captain Lovett, in Il loud and rough voice, such
uckct whaling vessel. when Il shoal of whales
is in sight, ".Stund by to haul the JeElO,o IN :"
The mate grasped the end OF the line, his
eyes benming with as much expectation and de-
light, as if he was steering II boat bow on 10 an
eighty barrel whale, while Captain Loveu pos-
ed his harpoon with both hands, kceny eyed
the British Captain-shouted in tremendous
voice, Now FOR IT. and drew back his as
in the act Of throwing the fatal iron
The EngliShman was u brave man-Which is
not always the case with bullies-und he had
often marched without finchng,up TO the mouth
Of cannon. And it he had been met in sin
gle combat with an adversary armed with II
sword or pistol, or even dagger or IL Queens
arm, he would have borne himself mauiul!y -
Indeed, he had already acquired an unenViabe |
notoriety rs duelllst, and had killed his man.
But The hdrpoon was u weapon with which he |
was altogether unacquainted-and the loud and
eXultng to mes Of the Yankee Captains voice
sounded like summons to his grave. Aud |
when he saw the sa"art Yankee raise tie
polished iron-and pause for an instant, as i'll
concentrating all his strength 10 give the fatal |
blow, panic terror seized hm--hs limbs trem |
bied-hls features were of Il CHASTITY puIlor aud
the coih sweat stood in large drops on his fore
mead. lie had not strength TO raise his weapon
-hild when his grim opponent shouted, Now
FOR IT, and shook his deadly spear the British
ofhcer, forgetting his vows Of chivary-hs re-
putahon as an officer, and his honor as duelist |
threw tIs harpoon Oh the ground fairly turned
ms back to his eneny-pnd fed like Tighten
ca courser from the field, amid the eers, the
jihes, and the hurrahs of the multitude assem-.
b'ed by this time on the spot
captain BIgbee's dueing days were over
NO man would fight with him after his adven-
t"re with the Yankee. He was overwhelmed
WIN insult and ridicule--and soon found it adj
v Saoe 10 change into another regiment. But
his story got there before hm-and he was soon
sent TO coventry us disgraced man. He was
compelled, although with great reluctance, to
quit me servce--and it may with great truth be
said, mat he never forgot the lesson he had re-
celVed from the veteran whaler, SO long as his
name WIS Bigbee.
From the Portsmouth " II. Journal.
ART OF PLEASING IN CONVERSATION. |
why, how pleasant YOU have been this eve