Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-08
| tha tima for .dministering this YerY lesson

4
by inmsting that, "though little in statul
he was brave as lion"
To this merely responded by a boI
He next went to state that his "sense
of honor was not inferior to his bravery
In short seeing that he had commun
cation to make, and was taking yer
roundabout way Of coming to the point,
brought him to it at once. He then CAV
me TO understand that the moment had 6
length arrived, when, without appearin
either csPtious or precipitste-he woul
like to see the individual, present compan,
excepted, whose discretion and smiabilit
came anything next his own-he felt him
self fres to terminate long series Of insO
lences.
Observing next the sea wall, he said,
party of officers in conversation, smoni
them ice cher Csptsine Se-che-iaube," b
had been impelled by that courtesy which
SO eminentlY distinguished him to approach
and salute them. His salute was politely
and smiliDgly returned by the whole party
with one exception. "Ce cher Csptsine'
gave no token of recognition; nay, worse
actually held up key and looked at hin
through it, as it had been an eye glass
thereby conveying the offensive imPutstion
that he was so diminutive, so insignihcsnt
as not to be discernible by the naked eye
This raised laugh among the gentlemen
present and, more offensive still, the laugh
was audibly taken up and re-echOed by cer-
tain non-commissioned officers and priYates
who were standing not far OF. For this
insult NJ. de Montmaur felt himself entitled
to prompt satisfaction.
"Well," said /, "you state the case ss q
party interested. Before Fronouncing on
it should like to ascertain the impression
of one or two of the officers present. Con-
steering that you and 1 have been so much
together, and thst it was /, moreover, who
had the honor of receiving your surrender,
1 shall view the insult, if any was intend
ed, as offered to myself. The quarrel, in
that case, will be mine; am the person
to whom the Captain will owe satisfaction"
(Such, in those days of duelling, were our
notions of honor.
"Ah," cried the little Frenchman, Hthat
is brave that is noble that is Just exact
ly what knew you would say But l
have anticipated your chivslrous senti-
ments by equal chivslry on my own part.
Ny challenge is already sent; despatched
it an hour ago, and I have the Captains
acceptance in my pocket The only favor,
which l now ask, is your oblig-
ing company as my friend"
The affair came off. The weapons, rsDi-
ers; the time, that same afternoon; the
field of slaughter, retired spot beyond
the bsrricades, and not far from the
southern extremity of the Rock. Never
.heless, the business hsd got wind, few
officers lounged down to see; and several
other persons, civilians as well as soldier,
stood looking on at distance.
The parties being placed, few thrusts
we're exchanged without effect. The Cap
tain looked sulky enough. It was evident
he keenly felt his ridiculous position; he,
.he biggest man in the garrison, stood up
ois-a-uis in mortal combat with the lesst. |
The poor man fenced as if he couldn't telp |
himself The little Frenchman, on the
contrary, was all activity and enterprise.
At length, after brisk passage Of arms,
he two stood facing each ether for a few
econds in perfect stiffness, their swords !
rarely touching at their extremjties. Sud !
Ienly the little Frenchman swelled to !
vice his natural size, stamped, shouted !
Hail." sprsng forward yard, sprang /!
'aek again.
1t was done in the tWinkling CT an eye. |
There he stood, just in his former attitude |
8 though he had never moved. At first 7 |
vas not aware of sny result; but three |
inches of his sword had taken effect, just |
g surely as when spider, having netted
wasp, jumps at him, nips, and jumps away
gain. The Captain had got an ugly |
rogue in his sword-arm, between wrist and
lbow. The first token wss that he used
ONE shocking bad lsngusgei next he
urned deadly pale; then his sword grad
ally went down, down, down then tho
7espon fell from his grasp-he could hold
no longer. NJ. de Montmaur, scorni8g
D profit by his success, bowed politely to
is antagonist, thanked him for the honor
f Hdis meeting" and expressed himself
perfect satisfy"
The Captain was taken sWsy by his
scond, growing thunder, and followed by
be doctor. The officers present, with
7hom he was far from popular, wers not
orry that he had got lesson, and sur
1unded the victor. A few words COM
lendatory of n. de Montmsur's pluck and
Kill took such an effect upon him that the
tile lieutenant was quite beside himself.
[e gesticulated, he wept. He called all
olympus TO witness that no insult, however
ross, should ever induce him henceiorth
draw his sword, in single combat, against
10 British uniform; and in proof Of his
ncerity ne entrested, he implored that
,me one present would only have the
indness 10 kick him or pull his nose, and
70 if he wouldn't take it like q lamb
o prevent him making q more complete
Is of himself, got him off the field, gave
i'm an early supper, with only short al
,wance Of grog, and sent him to bed.
Captain Schnaub, who with all his little
ecuIisrities Of character, was jealous
Hicer, appeared at his post on the third
ay with q slung arm, and in fortnight
as well.
So ends the first part of my story
[uch obliged; no mora wine for me. I'll
'ouble you for little of that. Thsnks 4
1ly half q tumbler-thsnk you, thank
on. III just light smother cigar and pro-
,ed.
Meanwhile the siege went on. Com
sred with their prodigious expenditure Of
oWder and shot, the enemy did Us very
tile damage; and the whole garrison fels
)nVinoed that, unless provisions should
ii, which they never did entirely, We could
sep out our foes from the fortress for
-hatever time they chose to remain before
/. Meanwhile, vaingloriously and lively
ever, NJ. de Montmaur remained with
J; simply, I suppose, because the be-
egers had no prisoner Of ours to eZchsDge
,r him; or, if they had prisoner, pre-
,rred exchanging him for sOmo one else.
In process Of time, as the siege proceed
], my post and duties were altered. There
-as reason to suspect that certain residents
/ Gibraltar Spaniards, or others who
Ivored the foe, were in the habit Of con-
sAiiug themselves in the rough ground
boYe the summit of the Rock, and from
lat elevated position making signals to
leir friends outside both by Day and
iRht. One. 7 two delinquents were caught
nd hanged. 1 had it in charge to look
!