Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-10-16


"Jean Mardelot," said Tom, struggling
hard to keep down his rage, "you have now
doubly placed the insult upon mo--and
both your insults are such as no gentleman
would have been guilty Of. Lead the way,
sir"
The cafe de Guerre is situated upon the
lower side Of tho same square upon which
stands the Opera House, and thither the
small party turned their steps. Back Of
the cafe ran out long gallery, used for
fencing and pistol-shooting, and to this room
the enraged Frenchman led the way.
"Now, sir" said Mardelot, "what are your
weaponsF'
II want cutIass that weighs at least six
pounds"
"E'ntend-a~ asked tho astonished Off
Ger, turning to Toms second, and seeming
to doubt that he had heard him rightly
"Sir hvresi Mon dieu, line sat- pas ce pu
Il uent"
You understood him rightly" replied the
Englishman; "he knows perfectly well what
he asks"
"Jean Mardelot would have chosen the
light sword or rapier but he had to give in,
and pair of stout metal-hilted cutlasses
were procured. Tho weapons were about
twenty seven inches in length, double-edged
and sharp weighing between five and six
pounds each. With this weapon Tom Wal
lace felt at home, for on board his own ship
he was considered the most expert cutlass
player among the crew; but the mode of
operating which is practced was one pcculi-
arly his own,and generally went by the name
of the "Old Sledge Came" Its movement
was awkward in the extreme, but at the
same time calculated to prove very decep-
tive to the stranger, consisting in series of
gymnastic manpuiations not very unlike
: the Irishmap's mode of handling his "dar-
5 lint sprig."
"Do you understand these weapons ~
asked the Frenchman, as he carefully bal
: anced his cutlass and took his position.
~ understand my own game, and you
can play yours" replied Tom as he cast a
: look of defiance at his antagonist, "but look
/, out for your fingers"
h "Come on, then."
No sooner were the words spoken thar
Tom crossed the opposite weapon, and ther
with a sweeping flourish which took the
other by surprise, he brought back stroke
so quick and powerful that the Frenchman's
cutlass went flying to the extremity of the
room, and as it struck with loud ring, oul
y hero quietly remarked,-
y "Go pick it up, sir"
# When Mardelot como back to the mark
n the fire of his eye told plainly that he haC
e set his soul to the task, and Clinton whis
pered,-
N "He's after you Wallace. Be careful.
This time the Frenchman held his wear
J" on with irmcr grip, and Tom soon foun
;" that he had to deal with man that wa
c, not easily fooled; yet he had decided ad
vantage, for he was stronger than Mardelo
W and could handle the heavy cutass wit
er more force. AT length when Mardelot wa
vainly endeavoring to work in peculia
~ thrust, Tom commenced his favorite gam
the regular 6luf-and as his cutlass be
70 gan to describe infnitcsimal arcs and triar
giles, his adversary actually recoiled befor
lie the Lightning flashes of tho swiftly SWEEP
r ing blade, and for an instant his point droI
~ ped. The eagle eye of our Yankee caugt
in the movement and down came the fiat
ro his ponderous blade, like discharged thur
derbolt, upon tho head of Monsieur Jea
y Mardelot.
Oh "Thcre, said Tom, turning TO the Frenc
second, as his adversary settled upon IL
le floor like skull cracked OK, 'you had bett
to put le Ac,er Jean to bed as soon as poss
Bile, for l think he is troubled with seye
he headache"
w. "Bravo, bravo" !" shouted Captain Clinic
as he seized our hero's hand, "That W
ed nobly done. You must sup with me
ch night"
IN "But, sir" suggested Tom, Il am only
petty officer in the United States Navy, a
nc you, sir, are captain. I'm afraid L
aw got myself into hot water"
"Never mind that" returned Clinton,
ne ''If was on duty, it would be another thin
re- and as to there being any trouble sprin
ing from this, you need not fear, for Il
nd quarrel was all of his own seeking. B
m you must sup with me,--so como along"
Tom Wallace did sup with the Engli
he cavalry captain; and in two days afterwar
MT the French steamer "le Ionrrs," went
do sea minus her third Lieutenant which in
vidual was laid up at the hospital with a
'ou riously cracked skull, and in all probabil
Illuminating, that is, if his brain was cl'
upon the standard value of French hes
when brought in range of a six pound VI
kee cutlass.
de If our readers would feel more interest
by the knowledge of the truth of d
ng sketch, they may rest assured that such
ter the fact.