National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-05-10

~ '''' III ItN minutes saw
that the whole gang had word OF
the Sinking of Pete and my ob.
servance thereof. | made my mi
to have it out with Pete, for the
sake of discipline. | had with me
a three-and-a half foot stick, which
l always carried for measuring pur.
poSeS--a good, stout, hard cane OF
hickory, of which, thanks to long
residence with an old English back
woodsman, knew also the use in
self defense.
Pete said |, If You don't do
your full share of work from this
time on, your name goes off the
roll tomorrow night and you leave
by the next tram Pete stopped
work and looked at me moment
from under his shaggy brows, then
leaned his spade against the ditch.
side, hitched up his trowsers, re
moved his dudeen from his mouth.
and stuck it in his hat, and then
climbed slowly out of the ditch.
Pete's shillalah and brown Jug were
never far from him, and he walked
coolly toward them, remarking 'Ye
dirty spalpeen. I'll brake the head
of ye shure as me names Pete Ne
Gee. an We may TAX me name off
the roll and be damned to We In
an instant he has a bit of black
thorn in his hand, and knocking off
his h""+, pipe and all, he frightened
his belt and came toward ne, as
ugly a looking specimen as you
would wish to meet. lheard man
remark, Boys, here's a discussion
wild shticks, shure enough and saw
the hands stop work and watch the
progress OF events with the cnthusi
astc interest of Irislimen when they
become aware that d fight is ap-
proaching. My authority was at an
end it | backed cut, whereas if
made a 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 uear, you'd bet
ter think twice before you do it,
'Hould yer tongue, will ye? I've
stood yer tyranny long enough, was
the only reply received, and in a
moment Pete had struck. ] had
parried, and we were at it. If any
OF you have seen quarter staff play
on board a man-otwar, YOU viii ap-
preciate the game. Some hundred
men take the sticks at a time, and
pair oil in two long lines on the main
deck. Very often any two men who
have quarrel settle it by getting
opposite one another and pitching
i'll. | have seen" some pretty sharp
fights at such time. Pete was evi.
IDENTIFY an old hand at the sticks,
and had doubtless figured III former
days at many a country fair i'll the
old country. So | stood on the de-
fensive catching blows like fail
strokes, aimed at head, leg, and side,
with astonishing rapldlty. Pete
was evidently surpr'S Sed at finding
me an tait with the sticks, and III
truth / had all that could do to
keep him from breaking my head.
AS it was, he gave me an ugly crack
on the left shoulder, and hit me
slightly elsewhere once or twice be.
fore | let him know that | could
strike.
At length, emboldened by my
continued attitude of defense, he at.
tempted to break my guard and
head at the same time by a down.
ward blow nearly corr eSponding TO
the seventh cut of the broadsword
exercise. 1t is no joke to parl Y II
blow of this kind, struck by such a
wrist as Pete had, for slight de.
Election OF the blow will disable your
knuckles, and if you are not up to
the dodge, your own stick will be
driven down on to your head, which
will probably end the fight. That
blow however, sealed pete's fate. l
received it on-my stick held orer
my head and slopiug sharply just
clear of myi shoulder, in fact Slight
ly touching it. He tried to check
his blow, but had put his heart too
much i'll it his shiilalah glanced
harlnlessly past my shoulder, while
with quick turn of the wrist and
forearm, | laid the whole weight OF
my blow fairly on the crown of his
head, and Pete Niece measured his
length on the ground, while an in
volt ntary "hurrua' rose from tn,
balance of the workmen, who forgot
i'll the enthusiasm for the science
that their champion was defeated.
Pete worked like Il Trojan after
that, and | even grew more popular
with the hands, except when they
were in liquor. 1t is great thing
amors such fellows to know that ii
muscle and pluck the "boss' is mo-
inferior to the best of them. Tw,
weeks passed after my battle roya
with Petc,and Saturday night came
The men were paid oil, and the usua
consumption Of the crater Legan.
examined my revolver all SIX bar
rels were properly capped, and tn
points OF the six bullets showed as
rcvolyed the cylinder, standing
!. where | could catch the last ligli
from the west. A squad of tn
hands strolled by as | stood ut th
window. returned their 'goodev,
ning, and heard the word revolver
, passed among them as they wen
! on, showing that they had noted III
employment. 1 laid my pistol o
. the center.tabl and leaned Oh Il,