The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-11-09


mann having his fun. and.the sword having
been finally crossed about four inches from
the point, the sacramental words, ''tartez,
Messieurs, We're given, and the champions
were left to themselves
And the usual amount Of feiGts and
''feelers' with which skillful swordsmen
generally prelude Hermann come out with
dashing, Brilliant game, which PeTjious
met by most sober series OF parties, show
ing that he fully appreciated the superior
hantliiig OF the adversary, who, fencing as
it were for honor was not sparirg his most
elegant fouri>hes
These fourishes. necessarily always drew
him out Of guard, but, relying Oh the sa-
cred pledge that the point was not to be
used, Hermann INDUCED them very extern
siveiy, and o>sensibly for effect.
Yet, as under full control Of his blade
and remarkably chary in his game, Perdious
was battling the brilliant, but after all not
over dangerous efforts OF Hermann, the i'm
petuous nature Of the latter become excited
and, although contrary to all rules-and
who there cared for rules-Hermann com
menced taunting his adversary and, III his
strongly germaulzed French, kept systemat-
icaily repeating, Perdious, my good friend.
| am going to cnt your head off and then
closing up on him with a more reserved
game, he would compel the Gasc0n TO yield
Reluctantly it is true, and only inch by
lnch-bnt get, to yield little ground each
time under each new attack.
And IS those attacks, following the mo-
notonous ''Perdious, my good friend, L
must cut your head off, were becoming
more pressing, once or twice a nervous mo-
ton OF Perdious' arm could be observed,
showing that, instinctiVely be felt tempted
to take advantage of llermaun uncovered
guard, and send his shining point through
his breast.
These indications did not escape the eye
Of Hermann, who twice sudden stopping,
SAID aloud, 'Gentlmen, please remark, L
think the scoundrei means to break his
pledge and to use the pOint-mlnd, Perdl-
Gus, mind-I must cut your head off, but
shall do it decently-do the same"
And again, the we'll directed blows
would threaten, now the head now the
arms, and already light crimson streak
tainted the buck skin glove which covered
Perdlous' hand, showing that one Of those
rlmble and shrewd stokes, known as the
wrist slash had been partially successful,
the object OF which Is to disable the sword 5
arm.
But yet, Ia his calm and calculating ad-
vance on Perdious, his own seconds felt con
WINGED that he was still bent on driving
Perdious to the bank OF the canal, and by
a well directed attack force him TO tail back
and then incure the ridicule Of a souaing il
the presence Of the large crowd On the
ground.
The cunning and irritable nature of the
Gaseon could not we'll brook this aItcrna-
tive, andFas he instinctiveiy felt it forced
upon him, his proud heart swelled with
rage, his brow flushed With anger, and the
nervous tWitch OF his compressed lips indi-
Gated a rising storm, the fury OF which was
still increased, Is the cool, tauuting words
fell on his ear: "perdious, my dear friend
i am bound to cut your head O!i-or you
must take bath" Collecting tor the last
time al the resources Of bis skill, he made
the attempt TO swerve from the straight
line leading him Oh TO the canal by Il des-
pcrate maneuyer, known as ''vaulting and
which consists OF making flank movement
forward TO the left by pivo,ing on the right
foot, or By a direct side step while break
ing to the rear" OIL retreatng.
But the experienced eye Of Hermann,
now earnestly engaged in the game, defeat
ed attempt, ard 1t was n vain that PtTdi-
Gus tried twice to GeYIate from that iata.
straight line winch was leading him Oh the
canal-tor twice, by an opposite vault, Her
mann brought him back to the fatal path
The numerous spectators have now lost
their appearing dispositions; they InstlEc-
lively teel that the game being Played has
reached the limits OF the tragic, and that
these men, on whose fitting they promised
themselves 50 much fun, are now engaged
IN, ln 4
life and death
No one dareS breathe word, much less
interfere, and the inexperienced seconds
who mechanically follow the combattants,
have lost the power 10 Judge of the time
when they could properly drop their swords
between those OF the antagonists.
And now, the foot of Perdious is already
on the slight elevation which sWelIs the
bank OF the canal; few teet-three OF
i0ur-seperate him from the grcenish and
staguant water, and the tauutlug, sarcastic
voice OF Hermann is heard tgr the last,
drawing out In its broken French. Per
dlOus, NY good friend, you must now take
Il bath, or / shall cut your head OF. lis
arm Is raised IN the air, his shining blade
describes u rapid curve, leaving his whole
breast uncovered, and that blade is about to
strike PerdiouS Or compel him to break Of!
once more and fan into the canal, when the
latter Is seen to take a firm stand, then
make desperate lunge, his hand holding
his sword IN quartz, and, 10y terrible
straight thrust, bury Itself IN the breast OF
hermann, whose aym falls pOWeriesS to his
side, white with his left, selZlng Herdlous
sword still in his breast, he cUUly Remarks
TO his seconds and those who have rushed
up TO him
Il knew the scoundrel would play NE
1oul; give me the stakes.
lhcl, letting 20 q the sword which, III
his terror, Perdious has abandoned IN the
wound, Hermann falls to the groUnd-a
corpse
\ few weeks have elapsed, and the mem
DRY Ut this event has almost entirely faded
away. \ few only occasionally remember
the martial bearing OF Hermann, and MS
last call for the stakes, when already in the
clutches Of death.
perd,ouS has broken up his fencing room
ne has only kept a few chosen pupils
barely enough to keep him from starving.
lie IS no longer seen at night around the
little coffee house he so long patr0nlzed. -
lie no longer smokes, nor drinks, nor sing,
the few faithful pupils who, still insist on
visiting him, never cross foils with hun, and
simply amuse themselves IN private assaults
with each other.
In the little room where he sleeps, hangs
over his BED a long sabre wrapped up IL
black cloth, the polnt of which only is yisi-
bic, and that point is fast being eaten up by
rust-or hood.
pprd;ouc pa,or e,cI-a ~ ~, I,,ol H..