The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-01-16

pledge that the point vas not n pc used, Her
mann INDUCED them very extensively, ana os-
tensibly for effect.
Yet, as under full control Of His blade, and
remarkably chary in lis game, Perdious was
battling the brilliant, but after all not over
dangerous efforts of Hermann, the impetuous
nature of the latter became excited, and al
though contrary to all rules-and who there
cared for rules-Hermann commenced taunt-
ing his adversary, and, in his strongly Ger
nanized French, kept Systematically repeating,
.Perdious my good friend, am gong TO cut
your head off" and then closing up on HIM
with a more reserved game, he would compe:
the Gascon TO vield-reluctantly, 1t is true,
and only inch by inch-but yet, to yield lit
tie ground each time under each new attack.
And those attacks, following the monotonous
''Perdous. my good friend, must cut your
head off" were becoming more pressing.
Once or twice nervous motion of Perdous'
arm could be observed, showing that, instinct
lively, he felt tempted to take advantage of
Hermapn's uncovered guard, and send his
shining point through his breast
These indications did not escape the quick
practiced eye of Hermann, who twice sudden
~ stopping, said aloud, "Gentlemen, please
remark, think the scoundrel intends to break
his pledge and to use the point-mlnd, Per
dious, mind must cut your head OFT, but
shall do it decently-do the same
And again. the well directed blows would
threaten now the head, now the arms; and
already light crimson streak tainted the
buckskin glove which covered Perdous' hand,
showing that one Of those nimble and shrewd
strokes, known as the wrist slash," had been
partially successful, the object of which is to
disable the swords arm.
But vet, in his calm and calculating advance
on Pcrdious, bis own seconds felt convinced
that he was still bent on driving Perdious to
the bank of the canal, and by a well directed
attack, force him to fall back and then incur
the ridicule of sousng in the presence of the
large crowd on the ground.
The cunning and irritable nature of the Gas
con could not well brook this alternative, and
as he instinctively felt it forced upon him, his
proud heart swelled with rage, his brow flashed
with anger, and the nervous twitch OF his
compressed lips indicated rising storm, the
fury of which was still increased as the cool,
taunting words fell on his ear: ''Perdious, my
dear friend I am bound 10 cut your head off;
or you must take BATH Collecting for the
last time all the resources of his skill, he made
the attempt to swerve from the strai ght line
leading him on to the canal by desperate
maneuvre, known as "vauIting," and which
consists of making flank movement forward
to the left by pivoting on the right foot, or by
a direct side step while breaking to the rear
or retreating.
But the experienced eye Of Hermann, now
earnestly engaged in the game, defeated the
attempt, and it was in vain that PerdIous tried
twice to devate from that fatal straight line
which was leading him on to the canal; for
twice, by an opposite vault, Hermann brought
! him back to the fatal path.
The numerous spectators have now lost
lheiruproarious dispositions; they instinctively
feel that the game being played has reached
the limits of the tragic, and that these men,
on whose fitting they promised themselves so
much fun, are now engaged in earnest in the
terrible and stern game oflife and death.
No one dares breathe word, much less in
terfere, and the inexperienced seconds who
mechanically follow the combatants, have lost
the power to 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 light elevation which swels the bank
of the canal; few feet, three or four, sepa-
rates him from the greenish and stagnant
water, and the taunting, sarcastic voice of
Hermann is heard for the last, drawing out
in its broken Fronoh, ttpordiouo, my good
friend, you must now take bath, or | shall
cut your head off, His arm is raised in the
air, his shining blade describes rapid curve,
leaving his whole breast uncovered, and that
blade is about to strike Perdious or compel
HIM to break of once more and fall 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, by terri
BILE straight thrust, bury itself in the breast of
Hermann, whose arm falls powerless to his
side, whilst his left seizing Perdious' sword,
still in his breast, he coolIy remarks to his sec
onds and those who have rushed up to him
81 knew the scoundrel would play me FOUL
but, anyhow, he has forfeited the bet; give
me the ''stakes.'
Then, letting 60 the sword which, in his
terror, Perdious had abandoned in the wound,
Hermann falls to the ground-a corpse!
A few weeks have elapsed, and the memory
of this event has almost entirely faded away
IL ieH ohly OCCASIONALLY 1tuleI1DeT IDc mar
tia] bearing of Hermann, and his last call for
the stakes, when already in the clutches of
death.
Perdious had broken up his fencing room;
he has only kept few chosen pupils; barely
enough to save him from starving. He is no
longer seen at night around the little coffee
house he SO long patronised. He no longer
smokes, nor drinks nor sngs-the few faith
full pupils who still insist on visiting him, sim
ply amuse themselves in private assaults with
each other.
In the little room where he sleeps, hangs
over bis bed long sabre wrapped up in black
CLOTH the point of which is only visible, and
that points fast being eaten up by rust--or
blood.
Perdious never speaks of his duel, but when
driven to answer any question on any other
subject, he says: "How can you believe what
| say? |, degraded nan!'
But one day he opened his heart to one of
his pupils-the oldest. "You see," he saws,
81 am murderer, and you must not come
here any more-nether you nor any gentle
man. am an assassin; I broke my word,
because | was too cowardly to die or TOO vain
10 run-leave me to my fate have sought
refuge in God; | have prayed; I have con-