The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1869-10-07

blood. Everything is arranged for amcetine
next week, 1t can't take place earlier, a.
the Austrian is still under arrest for his last
duel, Tonight | must see my old fencing
master, DiPrati; will you Gomez"
! consented, and accompanied my friend to
the back Of the Duomo where the SaYc farms
Of the famous professor was situated once
crowded with students. but latterly deserted
for the rooms Of rival professor, De Lain
court the teacher Of me Austrian officer, the
lire-catcr of Milan.
The hall was hung round with toils, breast
plates, masks, and all the usual furniture of a
place where assaults both with sharps and
bilntS were customary.
The professor was a tall, grey whiskercd
man, of martial aspect with arms barred to
the elbow, displaying Il mass of muscles
seemingly as tough as catgut
'.You are too late, count" said he looking
at my friend. '.play has been over this hour. 7
1T is not 2,l(V it il something serious |
come to you about This way, old friend,
and let me explain.
! They retired TO distant part Of the room
and my friend, in few words, stated what
had occurred.
The professors face wore a look Of CON
ccrn.
''The Austrian will insist on duel n'ou-
1W'1ce, fear"
''Nly unalterable determination is that it
shall be so. | have week to get up in my
fencing; will You take me in hand?"
| ''Why come TO me Your challenger has
already killed two Of my best pupils and
brought discrcdit on my school You should
rather seek instruction from my rival, De
l.aincourt, his teacher
Il prefer to come to you"
Il will teach no more pupils who throw
away their lives by disre@arding my instruc-
| tons
II promise on my honor, to obey them inn
phcitly.'
Come, then, you will have to fight with
Ehroadswords. Put on mask and breastplatc,
and let me see what You can do
Master and pupil being properly attired,
commenced to play.
My friend exhibited an amount Of agility
and skill was unprepared for. The master
| watched his play closely contentn@ himself
with parying blows and thrustS delivered
with much spirit and artistic skill.
The bout was over.
''Wcll professor, does yonr pupil disgrace
you?' I.
''Your play has some pretty things for the
fencing school; they must all be discarded
with such an opponent as the Austrian. At
tend. First discharge from Your eyes all that
passion which enables an adversary to master
your Intentions; next to take this guard and
keep to it."
The professor threw himself into an attitude
once tayorte among Scottish gentlemen Of
the sword, but now neglected by lpncers Of
the modern school. believe it is termed the
hanging guard.
My friend initiated the professor
''Not en- Qtt(j4c, but en- stconle, your sword
hand hiubnr than hno.l with slb,.i,, n.
point; your left brought in front, ready to
parry. Good! you have now the surest guard
you can use; you make :; strong cross ON
yonr opponents sword, and your parade is
more certain. You have Il week. Wtll
shall exercise you only in this guard and the
paralcs that flow from it.
Am | not to a1Sault?"
''But once; on il will depend the issue of
the fight, will teach you the mode the last
thing. See, your adversary is practisea and
skilltul; but he knows only what he has been
taught by his master. One or two tricks of
science he especially relies upon | know
how to countclact them, and had my pupils,
when challenged, attended to my instructions,
they m CHIT have been alive now to credit their
Instructor
s'You shall never have to make complaint
of me-
"Be,r in mind your opponent ha~ great
bodily strength, and is cunning of fence; but
foiled in his tayoritr passes he loses temper;
in that lies your safety. Having played out
his tricks, he takes his last and usually fatal
move. BY sheer strength Of wrist he presses
his opponents firmly aside, so rs to make an
open, then by a teint and turn Of the wrist,
he delivers Il thrust, which, if it goes home
all is over. You must wait patiently for this ;
when the thrust is given, parry with your lett
| Il Il,
stab not upwards, for in that ease the bone
and muscles of the chest may weaken it but
downwards, where the point will only meet
with the softer parts. 1t il only the play from
the 2tSpoSt that your life depends"
Il have, fear, impertrrtly stated the par
ticulars OF the lesson, and the technical terms
made use Of, my experience in i'ncing being
confined to turn on two with hllntH at An
grlo's room. OF course, aS this was to be Il
duel in downright earnest, my attention was
more than commonly rivettcd to all that oc-
cured"
'.And now for your weapon, said the pro-
fcssor opening a closet and producing a
sword, have the measure of the AuStran's
sword; this one is the exact length
The sword at Il cursory glance looked Il
very nnpromisng weapon with which I" de-
frnd Il mans life. My friend evidently thought
50, lof ne cNilnlntu II Win i ulSllftStu look.
"Why," said he tits hardly more than =
lark Spit the Austrian uses y konig5Errg
blade, double the weight and width Of thi,
toy
II know it; but this toy, as You term it,
surveying the weapon tondly from heel to
point "has qualities that in proper hands
will prove more than Il match for the best
sword ever forged in Germany: 1t is Il real
Seville bladc-nothng better in the world.
'.Sc"," placing it lcn@thwise on his finger,
chow admirably it is balanced; notice the
hlt, cross barred and crOSsed--no fear Of
wounds on the sword hand; then, its temper
scvcring 4 large nail On which hrcastpates
were hung. "Look again" pressing the
point against the wall till il met the hilt.
when, releasing the weapon, the blade in
stantlv returned to itsnornal condition. ''And
this last" striking the blade on the flat of the
anvil with all his force, ''there, that alone is
a test which | defy even the famed konigs-
berg sword to undergo Enough for this
night Come early tomorrow for your les
SON"
When we quilted the professor the doctor
obtained promise from me that should not
leave Milan until the result Of the duel was
determined, and that would accompany him
to the field.
saw little Of my friend except in the even
ng-he was engaged elsewherc-l did not
ask in what direction | Surmispd he was