St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1861-01-31


"Herc goes for the Volga then, And
you estimate this property"
"At something more than 100000 rou-
blcs."
"Then I add $4,000 to my stake"
"Agrced; but I have not the title-deeds
here"
open, ink and paper can supply them"
Writing materials were brought, and the
Prince engaged in writing to transfer to
Sir James, if he were the winner, the title
of his domain upon 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 feet before him were
placed, in circular line, five small cages,
twelve feet apart, each containing pig
con. Cords were attached to the trap. door,
which closed the cages, and were sufic-
iently long to reach the spot where the
marksmen stood, which was called the
post.
You might have heard a pin fall upon
the turf when Rally and the Prince had
taken their position, and the signal given.
The cords were agitated, and door fell
on the left. The Prince turned his
weapon in that direction, and fired.
"Down!" cried distinctly, the voice of
the official
The same stiffness prevailed, when it
was Sir James turn to fire. The trap
fell. The shot followed instantly.
"Down!" exclaimed the voice again.
The strife continued, with success on
both sides, till the sixth shot, when Rally
failed
"Misscd !" said the crier.
At the eigth trial, the Prince having
failed and Rally succeeded, they were
again equal, and the two sportsmen took
moment for repose. The Prince again
took his place, fired and missed. Rally
was more fortunate. The bet was ap-
preaching its solution.
What passed then in the souls of the
Prince and Sir James? It was mystery
beyond human intuition. To some the ap-
proach of an Important event is announ-
ced by low inward voices, to other presen-
tlments seem mere follies and chimeras.
But it was remarked that, when the Prince
took his carbine again, it was without a
word, without display, without the haugh-
ty 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 it; but it
mounted. its flight became stronger, and it
disappeared, while Rally calmly whistled,
"God save the King !"
Rally having killed the ninth bird,
the bet was decided by a single shot, for
the Prince failed again.
The two adversaries were superb at this
moment, each in his fashion the Prince
by the courage viii ich raised him above
his loss, and Rally, by the deep, contrac.
ted joy which he felt il thinking Of the
serious consequences of his success. They
extended their hands to each other, ano
separated the best friends in the world.
Fifteen days passed. The act of ccssior
first made out in the name Of Rally, thcr
transferred to that of Feodorwitz, was full,
authenticated, and Sir James quilted vi
emma.
lie attempted to restore the million O
} roubles, which Was entrusted to him, no
wishing to receive a price for an actor
whose only merit, he said, was success
but he could not resist the entrcaty of tn,
ransomed serf. Fcodorwitz forces him t,
accept, inscribins upon the pocket-hool
these words:
"To the free man who has made III,
> freeW