The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-18
NUMBER 81.

"Now," said the yankee, stepping out
from behind the tree, with his finger still
on the trigger, but the wide muzzcI Of his
firelock elevated at the angle Of thirty de-
grees,-"you have but one way to save
your life. Right about face - The du-
ellist began TO demonstrate. Face about
| tell you, or III drive load of buckshot
through YOU and he began 10 level his
musket as he advanced upon his adverse
ry. The duellist faced about like a SOL
der. Very well : forward march -
March, | tell you-straight 10 home; or
tarnation seize me if don't riddle you
with buckshot before | count three.-
One two =" The ducllist did not
wait for. the next word the angry voice
was close behind him, and the deep
mouthed blundorbus within two yards of
his hack. He began to march with slow
and rather halling steps, very different
from his usual strut. The yankee follow
cd with all gravity. The company in the
lneighboring woods fell into the rear, tit
tering at the strange result of the duel.
The line of march was pursued without
intermssion: for whenever the duellis,
attempted TO halt or speak, the angry
voice of the yankee drove him OH with
the threat of buckshot.
When they entered the town, Bacman
began with solemn face and voice 10
sing
Yankee doodle came to town,
To buy keg of brandy
Mind your steps there, or III blow
your brains OUT
"Yonkce doodle doodle doc,
Yankee doodle dandy"
Now it happened 10 be muster day for
battalion of militia, and the streets were
filling up with people of all sorts from the
country. When the crowd saw the ter
ribe duelist with thunder and lightning
in his face, walking along before the dry
visaged schoolmaster, and the schoolmas@
ter with n large musket solemnly chant-F
ing yankee doodle, aud marching cooly
rs if he drove an ox.cart, they gathered
themselves about them with wonder and
curiosity, TO see what these things meant.
When the bully reached the tavern door,
hundreds had assembled. Mounting the
platform before the door, he turned to
address his indignant remanstrance TO the
multitude. Before he could utter Il word
the yankee called out, Halt Face to the
left, and tell the people what yankee
trick have played you"
"Yes," roared out Bickerton, glad 10
vent his raging ndlgnation-'a derogato-
ry, dishonorable, ungcntlcmanly advan-
tagc! Fellow citizens, appeal to YOU
and to the laws of honor. This disiepu-
table pedagogue had the audacious ,emc-
rity and intolerable insolence, last night,
to discharge into my face-ycs, mine,
fellow citizens, lie foul and shiny ingre-
dients Of his supper for which would
have punished him instantcr, but for the
ntercesslon of the company. But to VIM
dicatc my outraged honor, | condescended
to demand of him the satisfaction of
gentleman, and he with most knavish de-
sign accepted my cartel.
This morning at the appointed hour l
repaired to the field of honor, equipped
as gentlemen usually are for honorable
combat. When | arrived at the place,
the dastardly paluoon was invisibly con-
ccaled behind a giant son of the forest,
armed with muskct enormously charged
with nine buckshot; and before we had
measured the ground or taken our posi-
lions, or the skulking dastardeven showed
his person, he presented-his musket and
threatened to shoot me, if did not drop
f my pistols and return to town. In attempts
ing to unwrap my pistols they slipped
out of my hands, and thus | was exposed
unarmcd TO the das.ardly attack of this
pedagogical poltroon with his dishonara-
bic muskct charged with all enormous
quantity of buckshot. | turned indignan,-
y from this contemplate attempt at as
sassinaton and returned home, that might
on a subsequent occasion vindicate my
outraged honor, and in public and osten-
sible conflict, inflict lascerating flagella-
ton upon the pedagogical author Of this
outrageous violation Of the code Of honor.
5 heretofore inviolably observed by all who
are entitled 10 the honorable appellation
4 of gentlemen.
i When the due,ist had concluded his
d speech, Jedediah soberly replied in these
n words: Fellow citizens, long bore with
d patience the unprovoked derision and in
II suits of this protested duellisi Last night
\. he assailpd me nj tho sumner table with