The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-10-21
THE DUEL.

from Blackwoods Magazine. IL is so interesting,
showing what slight causes often give rise to duels
that we give il entire 10 our readers
Spaniards generally have strong, and not unnatu-
raj dislike To see either military or civil employ
ents in their country filled by foreigners, ana IL Is
rare to find foreign officer In their regiments =
Sometimes, however, one meets with them-generai-
" Poles. On one OCCASION during my rambles,
fell in with battalion, quartered in an insignificant
Asturian village, in which were TWO foreigners,
Frenchman and Pole. The former, whose baptis-
nal name Victor, was line handsome young
fellow well educated, and even accomplished, whom
a love of adventure had induced 10 enter the Spanish
service His greatest fault was one not uncommon
among young French military men--a headlong, ran
dom way of talking, especially when slightly excited
by wine, otherwise, which frequently caused nm
to wound the feelings, give unmtenuorai, Out not
the less real offence to his friends and comrades II
demonstrated with on the subject when in cool blood
he admitted the failing, which he would again, how
ever, fall into, the very same day perhaps, when
heated by conversation rrtaed by the least con-
tradicton. Cyrzpsk, the Pole was OF a widely dill
ferent character He was the beau ideal OF veteran
soldier to which name, atOug h forty years OF age,
fve-and.twenty years service gave him TAR Title
Tall and powerful in frame INJURED to iatigues, and
skilled in all military exercises he was not less terri
BILE in the field than gentle and amable IN quarters
He the best hearted creature ever saw and al
though with nothing beside his pay to live upon
ready to share his last dollar with comrade.
BY disposition somewhat taciturn, he would SIT for
hours, his chin resting his hand, and large Ger
pipe in his mouth, listening TO the conversation
but rarely taking part in il. He still IN the prime
Of his yigor, and although the shake had worn away
the hair from his temples and forehead, it still curled
thick and short the top and back Of his head, while
strong and very light colored mustache conirasted
with the dark hue to which his fine face had been
tanned by the suns and rains of twenty campaigns
The Strangest thing about him his dialect IL
was a mixture of some half dozen languages, picked
up the various services through which he had pass
ed, and no one OF which, except his own, could he
speak with any degree OF accuracy. Somehow, how
ever, he raade himself understood and as no thing
ever offended him, 1t was often a source OF great
amusement to his comrades 10 laugh at old Cyrzin-
skis poyglot idioms
| was acquainted with one two officers Of the
battalion, and | determined to remain a couple Of
weeks at the village, to repose from the fagues OF
weeks travelling Spanish saddle and over de-
testabe roads. soon got acquainted with Cyrzn-
ski discovered that we bad some mutual friends
in another country, and an intimacy rapidly ensued
Although the village in which the battalion was
quartered was mere collection Of cottages, and
had nothing to recommend IT save the beauty OF the
surrounding scenery, found my time pass agreea-
bly,, that allowed several days TO eapsc without
thinking of departure. The mornings were spent in
riding walking and lounging, with an occasionab bout
al the fos, touch at pistol shooting; and, in the
evening, Cyrznsk, Victor, the Frenchman, two
three Spanish officers and myself, used generally to
meet at the quarters of one or other of the party for
the sake of conversation and the discussion Of bowl
of mulled wine.
1t was on the eighth evening after my arrival at
the village, and we were assembled in the room OF
Don Julian N, officer whom | had formerly
known at NJ. For three or four days past,
troops had been daily arriving from different quarters
in rear, and occupying strong position, of which
the village the central and most advanced point
Several thousand men were assembled in the neigh
boring hamets, or bivouacking in the fields; while
to front a strong Carst force had established
their pickets within little than musket shot of
ours. Nothing was expected for the following day,
as both sides were waiting further reiniorcements,
but action decidedly looked for the day after
the morrow.
We were seated, six in number, round ponderous
old table of black worm-eaten oak, which
placed large bowl of coarse yeowish earthenware,
emitting most fragrant vapor Of spiced wine, glass
in number sufficient, but two of them of the
form size, and bundle of excellent cigars. The
conversation ram as may be supposed chiefly on the
movements of troops, and probabilities of an APP
preaching enga cement. The first bowl was finished
and another brought in before a deviation was made
from this topic by of the party relating an Incl
dent that had occurred that morning.
An officer had ridden out from the Carlist lines
mounted on a superb Andalusian charger, and anus
ed himself 10y cantoring to and fro-not advancing,
however, beyond his pickets Suddenly the
horse started at some object the ground, gave
rear and plunge that nearly uns ated his rider and
then throwing up his head in the most approved sye
of star gazing started of at furious rate in the d.
rection of the Christine camp. The officer tried
hard to pull him in, but he was riding with single
refined bridle and, i'll luck would have it, the lea
Their broke. The horse went on at the same mad
pace his rider keeping his seat but unable to con-
troll him, until within hundred yards of the Christi
no picket, when shot from of the senries
brought the unucky officer TO the ground The horse
instantly StOpped and stood mOtlOnlPsS and
len by his master, as though conscious of ard re-
penting the harm he had done. Some men went
out from the picket TO bring in the animal, and find.
ing the officer quite dead, shallow grave was dug,
and he buried where he had fallen.
The burial was not long, said one of the Spanish
officers, young man, and great friend of Nicor's.
The grave was three feet deep, and collins
being of course out of the question, they just laid
him IN the ground in his shirt, though he had been
going to bed
And that was too much cried Victor, when
linen is among poor fellows. 1t would
be praiseworthy act 10 dig the body up, and strip
it,
Nor pas said Cyrzinski, gravely, you bad ting
deranger los muertos-ca porte maihetY'
Oh, does it , Monsieur Cyrzinsk said the French
man, who had spoken merely in jest but was reused
by the slight appearance of opposition En- Jein
l dabIe nemporte, if don't do it then; and what's
more, I'll the Carst rascas shirt the next
time we go into action What say YOU to that, mon
Poionois ?n
Cyrzinsk' shook his head, but made no reply. The
Frenchman, who had been drinking pretty freely
but was by no drunk, filled large tum
bier Of wine, and took it off at draught
"Come along, Luis said he TO his friend, want
you TO help me, or shall be all night digging up the
carbon
The young Spanard hesitated and did not seem
half TO like it but he accustomed TO yield TO
Victoris mpetuous character and they left the room
together. We shouted after them to come back but
they paid no attention to our call, and supposng il
to be Joke of Nctors and that he had gone off to
pass the evening in the quarters of other of his
comrades, we thought no more of the matter. The
conversation took new turn Cyrzinski laid side his
pipe, and becoming unusually communicative, told