Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-08-20

eyes to an angle OF twenty-three degrees,
paused about half minute, & replied, "Sammy,
watch Robert Durham close in the beginning
of the fight take care of William Stations in
the middle of it; and see who has the wind at
the end" AS he uttered the last member of
the sentence, he looked slyly at Bob's friends,
and winked very significantly; whereupon
they rushed, with one accord, to tell Bob what
Uncle Tommy had said. AS they retired, til.
squire turned to Billy's friends, and said, with
a smile, {" Them boys think i mean that Bob
will whip"
Here the other party kindiea into ioy, and
FASTENED to inform Billy how Bob's friends
had deceived themselves as to Uncle Tommy's
opinion. In the mean time the principals and
seconds were>busily employed in preparing
themselves for the combat. The plan of at
tack and defence, the manner of improving
the various turns of the conflict, "the best
mode of saving wind" &c., &C., were all dis
cussed and settled. At length Billy announ-
ced himself ready, and his crowd were seen
moving to the centre of the Court house
Square; he and his five seconds in the rear
At the same time, Bob's party moved to the
same point, and in the same order. The ring
was now formed, and for moment the silence
of death reigned through both battalions. 1t
was soon interrupted, however, by the cry of
&c Clear the way! ' from Bily's seconds when
the ring opened in the centre of the upper bat
talon (for the order of march had arranged the
centre of the two battalions on opposite sides
of the circle), and Billy stepped into the ring
from the east, followed by his friends. He
was stripped to the trousers, and exhibited an
arm, breast, and shoulders of the most tremen-
dous portent. His step was firm, daring, and
martial and as he bore his fine form little in
advance of his friends, an involuntary burst of
triumph broke from his side of the ring and,
at the same moment, an uncomfortable Thrill
of awe ran along the whole curve of the low
er battalion.
"Look at him p was heard from his friends ;
lust look at hm!'
Z" Ben, how much you ask to stand before
that man two seconds :"
"Pshaw, don't talk about it 81! Just think
in about it IS broke three O. my ribs already p
{" Whats Bob Durham going to do when
Billy lets that arm loose upon him ,"
Good bless your SOUL he'll think thunder
and lightning a mint juIip to tt
ooh, look here, men, 60 take Bill Stations
out O. that ring, and bring in Phil Johnson's
stud horse. so that Durham may have some
chance? ] don't want TO see the man killed
right away
These and many other like expressions, in
terspersed thickly with oaths of the most most
modern coinage, were coming from all points
of the upper battalion, while he was adjusting
the girth of his pantaloons, which walking
had discovered not to be exactly right. 1t was
just fixed to his mind, his foes becoming lit
tie noisy, and his friends little uneasy at his
delay, when Billy called out with a smile of
some meaning, " Where's the bully of the
lower battalion? I'm getting tired of waiting %
"Here he is," said Bob, lighting, as it SEEM
ed, from the clouds into the ring, for he had
actually bounded clear of the head of Ransy
Sniffle into the circle His descent was quite
as imposing as Billy's entry, and excited the
same feelings, but in opposite bosoms.
Voices of eXultation now rose on his side.
"Where did he come from %
"Why," said one of his seconds Gall having
just entered), eve were girting him up, "a
bout hundred yards out yonder, when he
heard Billy ask for the bully and he fetched
a leap over the Court house, and went out of
sight but | told them to come on, they'd find
him here
Here the lower battalion burst into peal
of laughter, mingled with look of admira-
ton, which seemed to denote their entire be-
lief of what they had heard
"Boys, widen the ring, SO as to give him
room to jump"
ooh, my little flying wildcat hold him if
you can and, when you get him fast, hold
lightning next"
" Ned, what do you think he's made of %
&c Steel springs and chicken-hawk, God
bless you !'
Gentlemen said one of Bob's seconds, g |
understand it is to be fair fight; catch as
catch can, rough and tumble: no man touch
till one or the other halIoos.''
"That's the rule" was the reply from the
other side
care you ready?"
owe are ready
"Then blaze away, my game cocks!'
At the word, Bob dashed at his antagonist
at full speed and Bill squared himself to re-
ceive him with one of his most fatal blows
Making his calculation, from Bob's velocity,
of the time when he would come within stri-
king distance, he let drive with tremendous
force But Bob's onset was obviously plan
ned to avoid this bow; for, contrary to all ex-
pectations, he stopped short Just out of arms
reach, and, before Billy could recover his bal
ance, Bob had him all under-hoId.' The
next second, sure enough, &c found BilIy's head
where his feet ought to be-" How It was done
no one could tell but, as if by supernatural
power, both Billys feet were thrown full half
his own height in the air, and he came down
with force that seemed to shake the earth
AS he struck the ground, commingled shouts,
screams, and yells burst from the lower bat
talon, loud enough to be heard for miles
Hurra, my little hornet!' Save him !'-
&c Feed him!'' "Give him the Durham phys
ic till his stomach turns ~ Billy was no soon
er down than Bob was on him, and lending
him awful blows about the face and breast
Billy made two efforts to rise by main strength,
but failed. s'Lord bless you, man, don't try
to get up! Lay still and take it :! you bteege
to have lt!'
Billy now turned his face suddenly to the
ground, and rose upon his hands and knees.
Bob jerked up both his hands and threw him
on his face. He again recovered his late po
stlon, of which Bob endeavorcd to deprive
him as before but, missing one arm, he TAIL
ed, and Billy rose. But he had scarcely re-
sumed his feet before they flew up as before,
and he came again to the ground. "No fight,
gentlemen p cried Bob's friends; GO the man
can't stand up! Bouncing feet are bad things
to fight in" His fall, however, was this time
comparatively light; for, having thrown his
right arm round Bobs neck, he carried his
head down with him. This grasp, which was
obstinately maintained, prevented Bob from
getting on him, and they lay head to head,
seeming, for time, to do nothing Present
Iy they rose, as if by mutual consent; and, as
they rose, shout burst from both battaions.
"Oh, my lark =" cried the east, :" has he fox
ed you? Do you begin to feel him He's