The daily Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1854-1855, 1854-06-16

the keeper Ito put up the images"
'Gentlemcn, must request you to wait
few minutes, until can get some some gen.
tleman has just broken every one in the gale
ry-such massacre was never before SEEN"
"HOw! nothing to shoot at but the Bulls !
eye?' said the amateur; ''fne sport that!'
The keeper of the gallery having gone out
to hasten the arrival of the plaster victims,
the amateur perceived a cane leaning against
a chair-a good sized rattan with gold head. |
Taking it up, he said to the boy, there, stick
this upon end"
"But, sir" said the boy, lit is cane"
DWELL, can't see that! go and stick that"
"And what them"
'Stand it up, l tell you-that's my affair. "
The boy supposing it belonged to one of the
gentleman's friends, did as he was desired
putting it up at thirty yards distance.
The amateur commenced shooting. At the
end of ten minutes, the cane was pretty well
pounded up; not single ball but Clipped out
piece. The marksman and his friend enioy-
ed the thing nightly. "And now to break
fast" said they.
AS they entered the coffee room, thev pass
ed the first mentioned three who were lust re-
turning to the gallery, smoking their cigars.
"Where the ID did leave my cane ?" said
the winner of the bet
"llere is your cane p said the boy, present
ing it, all cut and riddled by TWENTY-FIVE balls.
two or three of which had came near cutting
it in two. Imagine the gentlemans astonis6,
ment.
"There is no one," he exclaimed, "but Major
v, who could do that"
He alluded to certain Major renowned in
the army of Africa" for his extraordinary
skill--although he had never seen him.
"Never mind-as shot, admire exceed
.1xv &c E,,n -
sure eye. But after all it is my cane-and as
It is not now sufficiently strong to allow of nv
laying it over the Majors shoulders-boy 90
bring me his hat"
"The ID, Colonel what are you going to
do2" asked one of his friends,
"Going to- 40! am going to- give him a
skinner, in exchange for the broom. Boy !!
the Majors hat"
II dare not" said the boy; trying to hide
himself.
"Very well then I'll 60 myself; come at
least and point out to me the hardy Joker who
has dared to turn my old cane into water
sprinkler"
The boy was compelled to obey. The two
friends were seated at the table in the coffee
room. The Major (for it was indeed him) had
hung his hat upon one of the hooks in the wall
at the back of his chair. The Colonel walked
up quietly, reached up, took the hat and car
ried it out without being remarked by any one.
1t was done with so much GOODNESS, that it an
peared perfectly natural.
In an instant, ball after ball, was plummed in
to the crown, and in spot about the size of
cane, the Colonel marked his cipher, an "a
When he had finished, he ordered the boy to
carry back the gentleman's hat
Away he goes The two friends gaze at the
Major letting fall his fork and napkin.
1t is your hat, sir ! fixed so-it will be nice
and cool for the summer"
"And who is the halter who has dared to
ventilate it after this fashion,"
"The owner of that cane-you recollect ?"
"Ah! then l have nothing more to say--ony
to act.''
He arose from the ssblc, evidently embar-
raised.
No one" said he to his friend, Except Col.
a. of the Army of Africa, could mark his in
itials in the centre of the crown of a skul-cap
like this. Never mind-the wine is poured out
1T is necessary to drink it'-and emptying at
a swallow one of those immense pot-beilied
glasses. He put on his hat, and walked into
the shooting gallery.
The Colonel and his friends were still there
smoking their cigars with the greatest gusto.
"Boy!' said the Major "load me two pis-
tols-two only" Then advancing towards the
balcony, he looked about as if searching for
something and taking few steps outside, he
returned.
"Look here, boy! am. going to- show you
that with we'll stocked pistol, there is no
aeed' of hammer to drive a nail," and point
ing the pistol towards the pallisado in the gar
den, he took aim at the head of the nail which
had been partially driven there to tack up some
creeping plant was at least thirty-6ve yards
distant-Paf!
"Hit p said the bow
OF fairly" said some one present. "The
nail is struck, but the ball has only bent it |
over little, not driven it in'
"Ah LII remedy that" and taking the Sec
ond pistol, ne stepped a pace or two to the
night, and drove the nail to the head
"Superb!' continued he "you must be Ma
ior '; of the 18th Regiment of Saphir.'
cas- certainly as that you are Col. A. of the
African Chasseurs.'
The very same"
"Then here is a hat and cane that REQUIRE
satisfaction. Let us decide by lot which of us
shall have the first shot at the other How
ever it may be decided, the loser may consider
Himself dead man."
~ rather let US fire together at givensig-
LII that case, interposed one of the friends.
there might be two dead men instead of
very likely.
well, why then did you select my cane for
target?" ~'''0 '''
Excuse me, I selected q cane not that Il
was yours"
Then l. did the same took hat, and of
course the first that came to hand Certainly
l had no intention of spelling my own"
Is it worth while for us to certainlv kill
each other for that?"
"No, indeed, Colonel ridiculous The
best thing is to join me while finish my break
fast, that may thereby be enabled to live the