Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1864-03-11
The Juggler's Duel.

acts as assistant steward, and becomes
great favorite with the crew. At Por
Mahon, they 60 ashore, Joe in full tog.
gerry, enters wine shop, drinks, and ac'
cidentally gets into quarrel with fero'
cious Spanish infantry captain. A duel
ensues as follows
d" My name is Joe Latti, sir-a citizen
of the United States, and General ol
the Order of Sublime Darkness" said
Joe very pompously, turning to the Span
lard. "Your name sir p
Antonio Pizir, Captain Of her most
Sacred Catholic Inajcsty's 7th Regiment
of Infantry. But your office, sir?
don't comprehend it,"
"Oh, you wouldn't know if | was to
tell you. l am simply general of body
of men who have sold themselves to the
gentleman who burns sinners and heretics
down there - And Joe pointed most
mysteriously down to the floor as he
spoke.
The Spaniard smiled very bitter, sar-
castle smile, and thereupon Joe took up
two large knives that lay on the bar and
tossed them one after another down his
throat, making several wry faces as took
their passage downwards. The fellow
had evidently never scen anything OF the
kind before, for he was astounded.
"Now, sir" said Joe, making one OF
two more grimaces, as though he felt the
knives somewhere in the region of the dia-
phragm, "you will wait there while so
and bring my pistols, and you shall have
satisfaction. Will you wait7''
Il eau procure pistols" said the Off
Ger, forgetting his astonishment and COM
ing back in his anger.
I" shall fight with my own. If you
are a gentleman you will wait.
Joe turned to US and bade US wait for
him.
Here. here Oh gentlemen, where
are my knives 2" cried the keeper.
"Ill pay you for them when | come
back snd he beckoncd for me to come
out. | did so, he took the knives-onc
from his bosom and the other from Lis
sleeve-and told me to keep them until
he returned.
1t seems that Joe found boat ready
to take him off to the ship at once, for he
was not gone more than three quarters o
an hour when he came back he had two
superbly mounted pistols with him. H'
loaded them with powder i'll the presence
of the Spaniard, and then handing him 4
ball, asked him if he would mark it so hi
would know it again, the fellow hesitated
at first, but at length took it with bat
gesture, and bit it between his teeth.
II shall know that" he SAID, "unles
it be battered against your boncs.'
Now select your pistol" said Joe:
The man took them up aud examined
them, but he was satisfied they were botl
alike; and both good, and he told Joe tha
he had no choice. So our steward pu
the balls in and rlmmco them CAREFUL,
down.
The whole party now adjourned to
wide court task OF the cafe, where twelv
PAGES we're marked off, and then the com
batantk took their stations. tremblc'
for Joe, for saw not yet how he woul
make fun out of this.
Count" said the Spaniard impatient
ly.
One-two-threc.''
The captain Gred first, and with mos
deliberate aim. Joe fired in the air
Then tho latter walked deliberately up t
his antagonist, and taking the ball from
beneath his teeth, handed it to him.
You can use that next time," sal
Joe.
The officer looked first at Joo's teeth
and then at the ball. it was surely tn
one that he had seen put in the pistol AN
now he had seen his foeman take it from
his mouth. lie was Enthusiastically as
founded.
"Come let's load again." said Joe.
"San Pablo" exclaimed Pizir, "yo
must use some-some-what you cal
him ?-.omc trick, ch ? | shall load tn
pistol myself.
"Oue moment" uttered Joe, reachin
out his hand. The caps are in the but
of your pistol. Let me get them
The fellow handed over his pistol, bu
kept his eye upon it. Joe -opene lit
tie silver spring at the end of the butt
and true there were some percussion cap
there. He took out two, and having cap
ped his own pistol, he tossed it into til
air, catching it very adroitly as 1t cam
down, and then handed back the other t
the SpaniarJ. had watched Joe yer
carefully, but saw nothing out of the way
and yet he changed pistols with his foe
"Now," said he, "I'll put bail in m
pistol, and then well be ready"
lie slipped something in that locke
like a cartridge but no one else saw it.
Now" said the Spaniard, "let's sc
you hold this in your mouth"
Again they took their station, an
again they were ready.
One-two--three !"
And the Spaniard fred first, by ain
Joe firing in the air as before. And agai
Joe stepped forward and took the Sc
same ball out of his nth and handed
to his antagonist. lie fellow was cou
pletely dumbiounded and sworo the res
"You no fire at me !" gasped the cal
tain.
g" I'll fire Mt you next time" said 10
in tone OF thunder-"thus far | hay
only shown you that powder aud ball CT
have no effect on me. Twice have yc
cred at me, with as true pistol as W,
ever made, and both times have l caucl