The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-12-25

der SO hideous by foolish ussocia,ions) with
the rapture Of lovers going to a bridal cham
Der.
"Score FIVE for Bill Star, FIVE for Ben Star,
five for Big Jim Star, and five for Horace
Jordan" exclaimed the marshal, in quick
succeeding orders, the tempo sous tumult still
proceeding withou, intermisson.
Foremost OF all in the strife might be seen
the two deadly enemies, Star and Jordan,
throwing feeble men over the ropes as if
they had been so many infants. Jordln,
however, avoided any immediate encounter
with his adversary, and,to every offer Of the
sort by the other, replied alUud-"Wait till
the ring shall be cleared of ell but US two,
and then you shall be grdtifed." Ard still
the wild work went on till three long hours
had rolled away, and at length only twelve
champions remained in the arena-for those
once elected were not permitted to return,
and many who had tainted from sheer ex-
hauston had been removed by their friends.
or the dozen left IN the ring, one half con.
sisted of the brave bad brothers. The 9th.
ers, with the exception OF the young lawyer,
were all full.blOoded Cherokees, INJURED to
toll from hir cradles, and utterly inscnsible
to the impulses of fear. -...... ......
With the next peal ofthe signal, the gladi
otors gain closed, but all eyes were attract,
ed to the combat now joined between the
gigantic Star, aud the slender and sinewy
Jordan, as fuint, sharp cry from the car
riage OF Emma uttcsted her horror of the
dreadful vision.
The two foes grappled first in the danger
Gus Indian hug, or back hold" as it is usu-
ally called. Big jim, from the fury of his
onset, seemed to think that he could crush
in the ribs or crack the spine of his antagon-
ist with single effort; but the youths frame
appeared to be elastic as sword steel. 1t
bent almost double, without losing its bal
ance, and then re. bounding, broke open the
lock Of those hairy, herculean arms, and
stood erect and free as before the bitter EN-.
brace.
A deafering shout from the previously ST.
lent spectators hailed the prodigious achieve
ment, and big Jim himself looked as,onished
at the feat. He paused. however, but mo-
ment, and again springipg forward, the arms
Of the two encrcled each others bosoms
like hoops of iron. Again the form Of Jor-
dan bent cs q willow in the wind, and then
again recovering, broke open the monstrous
lock. A ienewed shout rent the air, ac.
companied by cries Of big Jim has met his
match! Huzzt for the man who can break
the black bears hug!"
This Ajax Of the arena heard the cxcIama.
tions ofrejoicing, and the sound seemed to
madden him the more. Making clutch
with his huge bony fingers, he succeeded in
graspng his opponents throat, hut at the
same instant felt the hand of the other fixed
on his wind pipe. Hanging on and tugeing
at each others necks like unconquerable
bulldogs, the two champions reeled from
side to side during some minutes, till both,
turning purple in the face, felItogether gasp
ing in the hot dust. Then reluxiug their
weary ii ngcrs, they regained their feet. and
stood for sev ersl moments apart, painting for
breath, yet still scowling dark and dreadful
defiance. ....
Let US fight with brave mems tools!'
cried big jim, fairly frenzied with rage.
"Any way you please" was the laeonic
answer.
"Then let us have bowie knives, and let
our left hands be fastened together said
the desperate, with the ferocious frown of Il
iend i1carnate. ..s
IL am content with your proposition" was
the brief response Of Jordan. .....
At this unexpected change in the mode OF
combat, the excitement grew boundless -
The other. gladia,ors suspended their strife
and the beholders began to make their bets
some laying large wagers that Big jim
would kill his enemy, others stalking their
money on Jordan, and others again on death
gaining GO:h. ,aa-.. ..., 7. sar
cast glance towards the beautiful Em.
ma -only one glance. Fdared not hsz.rd
another, she looked so like statue of des.
pair carved in snow white alabl Her
eyes were motionless, fixed on the horrible
ring. where brother, or lover, or perhaps
both were about to be hewn in pieces with
murderous knives Her lips we're liyd and
rigid as those oil q corpse that had been dead
for days. No sign of life could be distin.
guished, save shuddering in the bosom
over a region OF the heart. turned nwsy
for relief from an upparition SO ghost like to
the arena where rapid preparations were be-
ing made for the duel Esaw the seconds
bind the left hands of their principals hard
and fast together with a small hempen cord, !,
and place IN the hands Of each cleaning
bowie knife of the lurgeot size and with an
edge, keen as the blade Of razor; and then
/ saw--and felt the marrow creep with ley
coldness in my bones at the sight--the NOR.
tai foes stand cycling each other with calm,
determined faces, in whose mirror only one
expression could be detected--measurele
and unuterable hate, but no shrinking to-