Bloomsburg democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1867-1869, 1867-06-05

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it in his hat, and then climbed slowly out
of the ditch. Pctc's shallalah and brown
jug were never far from him, and he walkcl
toward them remarking: "Yc dirty spal-
pcen I'll bark the heal Of ye, shure as me
names Pete MGec, an' ye may tax my
name of the roll an be id to yc." In
an instant he had his bit of black thorn in
his hand, and knocking off his hat pipe
and all, he tightencd his belt and came to-
ward HE as ugly a looking specimen as you
would wish to meet. l. heard man re-
mark: "Boys, here's discussion with
sticks, sure enough" and saw the hands
stop work and watch the progress Of events
with the enthusiastic interest of Iri:hmen
when they Decome aware that fight is ap-
preaching. My authority was at an end if
backed out, whereas, il made good
fight, | might retain it even if whipped.
So | glanced around to sec that there were
no rolling stones or the like to step on, and
made up my mind to fight it out. 'Pete
niece" said |, 'youhad better think twice
before you do it," ''IIould yer tongue, will
ye? I've stood your tyranny long enough"
was the only reply received, and in mo-
ment Pete had struck and l had parried,
and we at it. If any of you have happen
cl to see quarter-staif play on board u man.
of-war, you will appreciate the game Some
hundred men will take the sticks at Il time
and pair off in two long lines on the main
deck. Very often any two men who have a
quarrel, scttlcit by going opposite one an
other and pitching in. | have seen some
pretty sharp fights at such times. Pete was
evidently an old hand at the sticks, and had
doubtless figured in former days at many
county fair in the old country. So | stood
on the defensive catching blows like fail
strokes, aimed at head, leg and side with as
tonishing rapidity. Pete was evidently sur
prised at finding me az .toIt with the sticks,
and in truth | had all | could do. to keep
him from breaking my head. As it was, he
gave me IN uply crack cn the left shoulder,
and hit me slightly elsewhere once or twice,
before let him know that could strike.
At leagth, cmboldencd at my continued
attitude of defense, he attempted to break
my guard aud head at the same timcs by a
downward blow nearly corresponding to the
seventh cut of the broadswcrd exercise. 1t
is 10 joke to parrya blow Of that kind struck
by such a wrist as Pete had for u slight de-
Election of the blow viii disable your knuck-
les, and if you are not up TO the dod ge,
your own stick will be driven down on your
own head, which will probably end the fight.
received ii on my stick held over my head,
and sloping sharply just clear Of my left
shouldcr.-in fact, just touching it. He tri-
ed to check his blow, but hal put his heart
too much in it : his shallalah glanced harm
lcssly past my shoulder, while, quick turn
Of the wrist and forearm, | laid the whole
weight Of my blow fairly on the crow of his
head, and Pete niece measured his length
battle-ground, while aninvolurtary ''hurray"
rose from the balance of the workmcn, who
forgot, in their enthusiasm for the science,
that their own champion was defeated.
"Pcte worked like Trojan after thai,
and. even grew more popular with the
hands, except when they were in liquor. 1t
is IA great thing among such fellows to know
tina, in muscle and pluck, the boss is not
inferior TO the best of them. Two weeks
passed after my bat,lc.royal with Pete, and
Saturday night came. The men were paid
of and the usual consumption for the ''crath-
err begun. | examined my revolver, all
six barrels were properly capped, and the
points of the six bullets showed as | revol-
we'd the cylender, standing where ] could
catch the last light from the west. Asquad
Of the hands strolled hr as l stood at the
window. | returned their good evening"
and heard the word revolver" passed
among them as they went on, shaving that
they noted my employment. | laid my pis-
tol on the ccntre-tablc and leaned on the
window-sll, watching the fading in the west,
smoking my pipe, and scarcely noticing the
entrance of a woman who did my house
keeping for me. She went in and out as
usual, clearing up the room for the night,
and finally took her departure. presently
made all fast, aud seated myself for quiet
evening with my pipe aud books. By-and-
by / began to hear the mrth at Pete sshan-
ty, away at the other end Of the street, wax
ing fast and furious. | heard the noise un-
til nearly ten o'clock, when l turned in and
was soon asleep.
"Thc next sound l heard was astumbling
blow on my door and confused murmur Of
voices outside. To seize my revolver and
jump into my trousers, vas the work OF an
instant, and on the repetition Of the blow, l
called OUT "stand clear there I'm going to
fire through the door," The second blow
had nearly dashed in the frail pine boards,
and us | spoke the third spattered the door
and could sec by the dim starlight, n doz.
en- heads and sticks pressing through the
doorway. Aiming at tho leader ] pulled
trigger, and heard the click of the hammer
on the capless cone. Quick as thought /
tried two more barrels hurled the useless