Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1856-01-18

/ YOU estimate this property
AT something more than 100000 rou.
bles.'
Then add $4,000 to my stake.
Agreed but have not the till le-deeds
here
Pen, ink, and paper can supply them.
Writing materials were brought, and
the Prince engaged in writing to transie r
TO Sir James, If he were the winner, the
title of his domain up on the Volga.
The bet was TO be decided by ten shots.
They drew lots for the first FIRE, and the
Prince won, and took his place.
About seventy fee, before him were
placed in Il circular line. Eve small cages,
twelve feet apart, each containing a pig
con. Cords were attached to the trap-doors
which closed the cages, and were sufi-
cientIy long to reach the spot where the
markSmen s!ood, which was the post.
These cords, by the rule of the game
were TO be placed in the hands of the ad-
verse party, who awaya stood behind the
marksmen and while the latter had his
eye iutently fixed upon the cords, his aa
tagonist was permitted to agitate them,
and to feIgn TO pull before doing SO ; ihus
it was impossible to foresee on which side
the shot was to be directed !; yet 1t was
necessary to aim quickly, for the bird,
from It's love ofliberty. departs instantly,
and with an energetic wing.
You might have heard pin fall upon
the turf when Rally and the Prince had
taken their position, and the signal was
given. The cords were agitatei, and
door fell on the LETT. The Prince turned
his weapon IN tha, direction, and fired.
Down cried, distinctly, the voice OF
the official.
The same stiffness prevailed, when it
was Sir James's turn to fire. The trap
tell. The shot followed instantly.
Down = exclaimed the voice again,
.Dia vou say. Jrlnce thu, this estate
borders on the Volga ?
From the balcony Of the house you can
sec the course of the river'
An explosion was heard.
Down = said the same voice.
There are magnificent plantations OF
young trees, grouped with intimate art
delicious fruits, fine peaches.
That is my faverite fruit.
Down
The strife continued, with success on
both sides, till the sixth shot, when Rally
failed.
Missed = said the crer.
At the eighth trial, the Prince having
friled and RailIg succeeded, they weye
again equal and the two sp9rtsmen took
a moment for repose.
The Prince again took his place, fred,
aud missed. Rally was more fortunate.
The bet was approaching It's solution.
What passed then in the souls of the
Prince and Sir James! 1t was mystery
beyond human intuition. To some the
approach of an important event is an
nounced by low inward voices, to others
presen,ments seem mere lollies and CHI
meras. But it WAS remarke1-tha;, when
the Prince took his carbme again, it was
without a word, without display, without
me naughty look which was natural to
him
He fired The bird, which had flown
in a straight line, suddenly turned.
Wounded !! said some.
Dead = SAID others.
No, no cried several voices.
Every eye was fixed upon il but it
mounted, its flight became stronger, and
tdisappeared, it while Rally calmly whist,
led God save the King l!
Rally having killed the ninth bird. the
BET was decided by single shot, for the
Prince failed again.
The two adversares were superb at
lhis moment. each in his fashion the
Prince, by the courage which raised him
above his loss, and Rally by the deep,
concentrated JOY which he felt in think
ing Of the serious consequences of his sue
cess. They extended their hands to each
other, and separated tie best friends in the
world. 1t was but an incident of sports
man life, which might have its counter
part tomorrow
Fifteen days passed. The act of ces.
sion, first made out in the name of Rally,
then transferred to that of Fcodorwitz,
was fully authenticated, and Sir James
quilted Vienna.
He attempted to restore the million Of
roubles, which was entrusted to him, not
wishing to receive price for an action
whose only merit, he said, was success
but he could not resist the entreaty of the