The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-02-17
VOL. VINO. 282.
THE DUEL IN THE BUSH.


George Flower, n famous mounted policeman,
who was sent out to hunt up notorious
bush-ranger, named Milligan:
lie met Miligan as fellow-ranger-and
who supposed Flower to be dead. After some
conversation, Flower said:
snow suppose mounted policeman, or
thief-taker-a fellow of real pluck-was to
come upon you when you were alone, and
was to challenge you TO surrender, what
would YOU do! Would you draw your trg.
ger at once, and not give him n chance!"
no." cried Milligan, 'Id tell him to stand
off and have fight for it."
"Milligan," said Flower, still keeping his
eagle eye fixed on him, "are you speaking the
truth !"
ayes, so help me Heaven
snow, let us snppose," continued Flower,
'thut such man as that fellow George
t'lower-thc fellow that was drowned the
other day-was to be in tho same position
with you as am now?"
"Id tell him." said Milligan, ''that one of
us mnst die, and challenge him to fight fair
slow fight fair ;"
"Why, I'd ask him to measure off fifty
yards, to walk backwards tvc.and twenty
PAGES, and let me do the same"
sand do YOU think he would do it"
"Yes do, for he was man. | have often
wished to meet that fellow in the field, for
what most want in this life is its excite
mcnt, and TO be killed by the hand of man
like Flower, or to escape by killing him in
fair iight--ci,hcr way would be something
to suit me-
"AIillgan,' said Flower slowly. 81 believe
every word you uttered. Now listen to what
| am going TO tell you. I an George
| Flomer.'
Miigan started. lie gazed on Flower,
whose eye was now rivcted on that of his ad
vcrsary. Nligans carbinc dropped from his
hand, but he did not change color or betray
any alarm.
"rick up your piece" said Flower, pointing
to the carbine, and assuming n proud and
careless attitude. II am all that you havo
said of me. MilIigan. | might have shot you
like n dog before spoke to you just now;
| but could not do that, for You are n man as
well as myself, and You are as brave us gen.
crous. Pick up your piece, and walk back
ward five and twenty PAGES; but let us shake
hands first" Millisan took Flowers hand,
!, and sighed heavily as he shook it. "Do not
surrender" suggested Flower, half fearing
} that Mligan would do SO and break the very
charm that bound him to the man.
"Surrcnder..' cried AIiligan, with smile
and a snecr; "no! I'll never do that. And
knowing YOU TO be brave foe, have still Il
chance for shoot as straight us you do. But
tell me in earnest, are you George Flower!
Yes. you must be. But hear this dis blood
BEGAN to warm if YOU are not, we must fight
thi, day. for we cannot after this live to-
gcthcr.' And Milgan took up his carbine.
and satisfied himself that there was powder
in the pan, and with his lcl, thumb he push.
ed the corner Of his flint round so rs to in.
sure ignition when he drew the trigger.
Flower placed his carbiIc against \ huge
stone, then put his hands into his pockets
and looked at MiIligau;'' u am George Flow
cr" said he, "and who but George Flower
would deal with you rs do. Don't let us
talk much, or may forget my mission and
become a bush.rangcr myself" And Flower
took up his carbinc, and examined the pow
der in his pan, and touched the flint US Mili-
gan had done.
"Flowcr. for Flower you must be-" said
Milgan, "Srant me, il you shoot me, one dc.
sire that has haunted me. | do not dread
death, but ! have horror of burial. If | fall,
suffer me to lie on the very spot. Let the
eagle come and feast upon my carcass, pluck
these eyes from their sockets and the skin
from this brow; let me lie here in this lonely
region, and let my bones bleach in the sun,
and the rain fall, and the moon and stars
shine upon them"
"My God!' exclaimed Flower, scizing Mill
gan by the arm, "thc same dread Of being
buried has ever haunted me. II fall by your
hand let me rest here, with my head pillowed
upon this gun. Let no man living be shown
the spot where ! icll.'
Take your ground" said Milligan. Il am
ready"
"Thcrc is my hand" said Flower, "and
should we meet in another world, NO shall
not be ashamed of one another, INV hoy"
Tears were standing in the eyes Of both
Flower and Miligan when they parted Each
stepped backward pace for pace, Milligan fol-
lowed by his little terrier, Nct,lcs. When
they were abou, fifty yards apart, they halted
and looked at each other for several minutes.
Both simultaneously leyellcd their carbincs,
but each was indisposcd to be the first TO fire.
! At last Mllligan discharged his piece. lie had
aimed at Flowers heart. His bullet whizzed
past Flowers head, and carried away part of
the left whiskcr. Flower iircd-and Milli-
gan fell flat on his face. The bal! had en-.
| tered his left breast Flower ran to the spot
to catch any last word Milligan might desire
to breathe But Miligsn was dead.
DISASTER oS THE ALABAMA.-Thc Girard
| East Aabamian, of the Sd inst, says: "We
/ learn from a gentleman who has Just arrived
at this place, that the steamer America was
] burned on the Alabama river on Monday and
! that il is understood that SO lives were lost
| We have not heard the names of any Of the