Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-08-20

Eyes, would engage to put in ten J"
SIT is not possible" said an arquebusier In
attendance.
"You think SO, because you are not expert
yourself; do you think resemble yon9 Well,
If it will afford you any diversion, am will
ling, before die, to show what man can Do
with an arquebuss."
-" We should like to see lit" cried several
persons. 80,
:. It shall be So" said senator. " and ifhe
put ball into the neck Of a bottle, without
breaking it, we will pardon him."
"That would be easy" observed Rudinet,
while another senator remarked, that pardon
should not be granted on 30 easy terms TO one
who had been so great an offender.
No." said he, "aine yonng gif!a,have bees
taken from their homes by him, and he shall
fire nine balls, designing with them the cy-
pher 8 in the vane over the gate Ernch'e'n-
ner."
swell said and if he fails in one ball, we
will hang him."
eyes. YES ~ roared the crowd, delighted al
having two exhibitions instead OF one.
81 am quite content" said Hans Kudinet,
j" if pardon is to attend success ~
1--WE will beg it for you - cried the argue
busters.
cit shall be granted" said the senators.
"Give me then piece and nine balls"
"Place him under the gbbet," ordered the
burgomaster, "put cord round his neck, and II
he miss one shot, tighten 1t till you strangle
him.
Hans Rudnet took the arquetuss, and exam.
ined il, without seeming disturbed by the pre-
parations of the execu:ioner, who was placing
the cord as the burgomas.er had indicated. He
then nut in the powder, ball, and wadding, and
raising the piece with careful attention he fired,
and the vane turning on its pivot, showed that
it was pierced through.
"There's nothing remarkably clever in
that"
"Oh, no; any body might do the same!'
81 would bet a trife that the third ball hangs
him: ~
"The second comes before the third" said
Hans cooly, "look there it is; have placed
it well o.
"Yes."
"Now then for the third; there, does it be-
gin the curve9''
"Admirable!'
Four-fve-six see have made the cir
Gle; it remains but to put the tail TO the cy-
pher."
"Better and better bravo, Rudinet you are
the best marksmen in the world ~
And the people, who few minutes before
would have doomed the poacher to death, now
hoped for his safety. The arquebusiers almost
trembled lest the remaining shots should be
less true, and the girl pressed her child to her
heart, which palpitated with the dread that an
ill-directed ball should prove the signal for ex-
ecu,ing man who had obtained possession Of
her person unlawfully. But the three other
balls were fred with as much accuracy az the
former ones, and the was as well formed as
though the holes had been perforated by the
hand.
"Vivat!" screamed the girl.
"Viva;!" shouted the arquebusiers.
"Vivat!" cried the people.
Rudinet was quickly relieved of his hempen
cravat, and carried in triumph before the sena-
tors.
"How will you deserve the life which we
spare you - they asked.
" BY employing it in learning to be an hon
est man -
"Why did you not begin sooner :"
" because my companions would notlet me;
but they are gone-may they rest in peace!-
If this young woman will consent, will mar
nv her tomorrow, and the town Of Frankfort
shall not boast more honest citizen than my
seif!'
Hans Rudinet kept his word; he became
"an honest citizen, good husband, and tender
father,' as we read on the headstone in GEM
etry and he was unanimously chosen for the
chief Of the arquebusiers.