Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-05-01


from him, and he walked coolly toward
them, remarking Ye dirty spalpeen. I'll
brak' the head of We shure as me names
Pete McGee an ye may tax me name off
the roll and be damned to ye.' In an in
slant he had his bit Of black thorn in his
hand, and knocking off his hat, pipe and
all, he frightened his belt and came toward
me- as ugly looking specimen as YOU
would wish to meet. [ heard Il man re-
mark, Boys, here's a discussion wild
shticks, shure enough and saw the hands
stop work and watch the progress of events
with the enthusiastic interest of Irishmen
when they become aware that a fight is APP
preaching. My authority was at an end
if | backed out whereas if made good
fight | might retain my authority, even if
whipped
So glanced round to see that there were
no rolling stones, or the like, to step on,
and made up my mind to fight it out Pete
McGee,' said |, as he drew near, you'd
better think twice before you do it. Hould
yer tongue, will ye? I've stood yer tyran-
ny long enough. was the only reply [ re-
ceved, and III Il moment Pete had struck
[ had parried, and we were at it, If any
OF you have seen quartcr->tatf play on board
man-ot-war, you Will appreciate the game.
Some hundred men take the sticks at
time, and pair off in two long line, on the
main deck. Very often any two men who
have a quarrel settle it by getting opposite
one another and pitching in | have seen
some pretty sharp fights at such times.
Pete was evidently an old hand at the
sticks. and had doubles. figured in former
days at many Il country fair in the old
country. 30 | stood on the defensive,
catching blows like tlail--troke~. aimed at
head, lce, and side. with astonishing rapid
ity. Pete was evidently surprised at find
ing me an faH with the sticks, and In truth
| had all that | could do to keep him from
breaking my head A. il was. he gave me
an ugly crack on the left shoulder and hit
me slightly elsewhere once or twice before
| let him know that t could strike
At length. emboldened by my continued
attitude Of defense, he attempted to break
my guard and head at the same time hy a
downward blow nearly corresponding TO the
seventh cut Of the broad-word exercise IT
Is no Joke to parry ii blow OF This kind.
struck by such wrist q, Pete had. for "a
slight DETECTION Of the blow will disable
your knuckle~, and if YOU are not up 20 the
dodge, your own stick VIII IT, driven down
on to your head, which viii probably end
the fight That blow. however sealed
Petes fate received it ON my stick held
over my head and ~lopine sharply ju~t clear
OF my left shoulder. in fact slightly touch
in@ it. lie tried to check his blow, but had
put his heart too much in IL; his shi.lalah
/ glanced harmle-SlV past my shoulder. while
II. " ''N ''t'" II IT, ,i''' ~
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','' oi''','S "' 'I' "'L NI''''l' "''" .'i
'iieh enthusiasm non 'n@ science 'i1t 'he'f
'h1ihPl'h was "e,ea'tI' '., -.
''c ""iht'l IKE ; L".I''h .'t''i '"','' anu
even SIe" more popular W." Ihe i'"Il,'7-
except "h'h 'H'I Were lii li1u'f, ~
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"a 'o,i ''le a. i7ii, IL oli' 'il0
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"in'o"- IG'urHco ''ieir 29'' 'l ''i'''-'
ana near" 'Ie WOE"
among tllein 'S '"'J " G'- o' 'ii' ~ '.''''
'neN h"o ilo'e" my eh'Pio mem i"i'' ~
P.S'9' "" ne S''i''i -''''i' ''i,. o''
"iii''o" SUI "'.0'i'''- ''i ''''
me NcS'' SinoAil3 my PipN' ''''' ~,
noticing the entrance OF a woman VINO "iq
my housekeeping ioI me- ~ "''ii' III a li''
U"' ,9''''' az
/ 'i'C 'i'-u', anu H'i'i'H '''' i'''
ana 'ooN hGI 'iePaI I'uIc- Pi''eh'.5 i'''''''
an laS' ana Ne".e" my S,H i"i ''''
nl,iS WIN ny pup 'i'. =: ','' -
\ pe3ah 20 near me iil'r,' - e'1 S'''','
away al me o'her eI'i "i 'he .'fet', ""A'"5
last and furious. heard the noise uiitIi
nearly ten o clocS' when turned IN ana
was soon asleep
The next sound heard was stunning
blow on my door, and confused murmur
of voices outside 10 seize my revolver
and lump into my trow,ers was the work Of
an instant, and ON a REPETITION Of the blow.
[ called out. Stand clear outside I'm
going to fire through the door The second
blow had nearly dashed in the frail pine
boards. and a. spoke. the third shattered
the door. and | could see by the dim star
light dozen heads and sticks pressing
through the doorway Aiming ii ut the
leader. | pulled trigger, and heard the