Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1869-11-27

his athletic opponents long, ihin,
wiry arms, Ghost narrow, sk'n al
most as dark as q malalto's, and
with a grsyish tingc, either tho
effect Of cold or fear, that, TO my
eyes, appeared tho 'orsrannsr OF
doom.
/ The seconds Having laid down the
swords with hilt 10 each combat
ant, retired and gave the signal
The inellsls picked up,le swords,
my friend nj once belak,ng hiMseli
10 tbs new guard,
The ofsicor for Z moment looked
with an air OF surprise AZ the atl''
tudo, only for n moment Win a
grim smile, ho made his advance,
and crossed swords with a aslash
Ny friend had proil,ed by his les
son; bis face was impasSive, his
eyes Tranquil, his guard ~ firm as
rock. Tho officer mado n ioint
which wns disregarded--a thrust
which was parriod with tile loll. a
second feiht and second thrust
were foiled in tho same way. An
other feint, converio into u real at
tack, waa adroitly bailled. Tho
officers color rose-,he eyes Of tho
two professors were on him-hls
reputation aud that Of hls teacher
were ut stake. He changed his tao
ties discngagin suddenly he rais'
ed his sword and discharged . blow
at the head with seemingly irrcsis.
tiblc force. Ny little friend could
only avert the assault By receiving
the sword on the forte Of his wea.
pom and dropping as low as posi-
bio; so FAR was the party successful,
but the downward blow, which, in
reality, was only the dcant courier,
! being followed BY n thrust under
/ guard was only parriod by the rapid
use of the lett hand, this time not
without doing mischief, for the
blood was seen to flow from tie
hand called into requisition. Tho
officer in making this last thrust,
owing to tho slippery ground. had
given an opening, which my friend,
in spite of the previous cautions OF
his instructor, prepared to take ad.
vantage of The circumstances was
noticed by Di Pratt, who irowned
omniously, and muttercd, beneath
his breath Is
"If he break guard, he is lost
hah bravo! bravo! ur
The words of approval were
drawn from him by noticing what
had happened. The last thrust, |
have said brought the officer just
barely within range. BY a dexter
ous movement of the wrist the point
of my friends sword was drawn
swiftly across tho officers chest
The temper and keenness OF the
Moorish weapon were clearly prov
ed, for tho touch, light as it appear
cd, laid open the flesh and muscles
to the bone from the left shoulder
sheer across the breast, causing q
deluge of blood to follow. lo.a
The officer, finding himself severe
ly wounded, became crimson with
rage cnrbing his passion, he pre-
pared to execute the fi.vorito man
mancuvcr, which, hitlcrlo, had
proved fatal to his opponents, lie
advanced on my friend, and making,
a strong cross to his sword. put,
forth his wonderful strength Of
wrist .t..,.-.,..,... ........
NY attention was called OF for a
moment to Di Pratt, who drew ont
his handkerchief, held it a moment
and then suddenly dropped it. g ift
Not a moment too soon. The,
! officer had made his open and deliv-
cred thrust fuilaatthe body of my
friend, who, having seen the hand
kerchief drop, brought his left hand
again into play This time two
fingers fell TO the ground The
neXL. instant a terrific yell assured
me lhat,something fatal had OCCUR
rcd La rispoSte had been given
my friends blade WAS buried deep
" in the lower part Of the officers
body. q. The officer sfinstinetively
feeling that the wound was mortal;
seized the sword with one hand and
shortening his own, made dcsper-
ate lunge only to be wardcd off by
my friend, % uitting hold of his
sword and lcaping back out of dis
tanco. 1.-The forcc ofnthc thrust car