The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-08-18

rage with Professor Di Pratt.
/ The place of combat was to be near
Monga-iust beyond the Milan territory
there were reasons for this which need not
be particularized.
The morning was cold and cheerlesso and
when we alighted, which was in about two
hours, the day had not frightened. All par
ties got out of the carriages; the foes salu-
ted each other briefly. noticed the muir
derous look in the Austrian's eyes, and l
gave up my friend for lost. Without word
| being spoken we walked on until we came
to an open space, smooth but slippery with
the morning dew. This was the spot Sc
lected by the two seconds, who, apparently,
quite accustomed to such scenes, went about
their duties in steady, business-llke manner.
Professor di Pratt, who had brought his
| sword with him, as he handed it to my
| friend, whispered, Remember when drop
my handkerchief qisp0ste."
| The Austrian officer disencumbered him
self of his cloak, and Invested himself of all
his upper clothing, leaving his bust uncov-
| ered I never saw so fine form. Perfectly
proportional on the largest scale, he stood
| upwards of six feet high; chest, arms and
back billowy with muscle, skin as white as
that of the fairest lady.
Nv friend, seeing the fighting costume
| adopted by the officer, threw off his black
silk vest as if resolving that he would not
even have a questionable advantage. In size
| he looked mere dwarf to his athletic OPP
pouent; long wiry arms, chest narrow, skin
| almost as dark as mulatto's and with
q greyish tinge, either the effect of cold or
| fear, that to my eyes, appeared the torerun-
ner of doom.
The seconds having laid down the swords
with hits to each combatant, retired and
gave the signal.
The duelists picked up the swords, my
friend at oncetbetaking himself to the new
guard.
The officer for moment looked with an
air of surprise at the attitude, but only for
a moment. With grim smile, in which
something Of contempt was mixed, he
made his advance, and crossed swords with
clash. My friend had proited in his les
son his face was impassive, his eyes tran
Gull. his guard as firm as rock. The Off
Ger made feint which was disregarded-a
thrust which was parted with the left. A
second feint and a second thrust were foiled
in the same way Another feint, CONVEX
ted into real attack, was adroitly baf-
fed. The officers color rose-the eyes of
the two professors were on him-his repu-
tation and that of his teacher were at
stake He changed his tactics; disengaging
suddenly he raised his sword and dis
charged blow at the head, with seeming
ly irrisitible force. My little friend could
only avert the assault by receiving the
sword on the forte OF his weapon and
dropping as low as possible; so far was
the parry successful, but the downward
blow, which, in reality, was only the acant
courier being followed by a thrust under
guard, was only parted by the rapid use of
the left hand, this time not without mischief,
for blood was seen to flow from the hand
called into requisition. The officer in MAX
ing this last thrust, owing to the slippery
ground, had given an opening, which my
my friend, in spite of the previous cautions Of
his instructor, prepared to take advantageof.
The circumstance was noticed by Di Pratt,
who frowned ominously, and muttered, be-
meath his breath, aft he break guard, he is
lost-hah bravo bravol" The words of
approval We're drawn from him by noticing
what had happened. The last thrust, have
said, brought the officer just barely within
range By dexterous movement of the
wrist the point of my friends sword was
drawn swiftly across the officers chest. The
temper here clearly proved, for the touch,
light as it appeared laid open flesh and mus
Gle to the bone from the left shoulder sheer
across the bust, causing a deluge Of blood
to follow. aT1 ...
The officer, finding himself severely
wounded, became crimson with rage. Curb
ing his passion, he prepared to execute the
favorite maneuvre, which hitherto had prov
ed fatal TO his opponents. He advanced on
my friend, and making strong cross of his
sword, put forth his wonderful strength of
wrist.
My attention was called off for moment
to DIR. Pratt, who drew out his handker-
chief, held it for o moment, and dropped
it.
Not moment too soon. The officer had
made his open and delivered swift thrust
full at the body of my friend, who, having
seen the handkerchief drop brought, his
left hand again into play. This time two
fingers fell to the ground. The next instant
a terrific yell assured me that something
fatal occurred. La rispoSte had been given
my friends sword was buried deeply in the
lower part of the officers body. The officer,
instinctively feeling the wound was mortal,
seized the sword with one hand, and short
ening his own, made desperate lunge, only
to be warded off by my friend quitting hold
of his sword and leaping back out of dis
lance. The force of the thrust carried the
officer forward; he fell prone, forcing his
opponents sword into his body up to the
very hilt.
The officer cast one look of mingled rage
and hate at my friend, the last look on
earth, and as he turned convulsively on his
back, his eyes closed N death. ..,-