The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-10-29

he made lis Iaa,s sSssi crossed swors
with clash. MY friend had prodted by
his lesson; his face was cimpassive, hts
eyes tranquil; his guard as firm asa rocks
The officer made feint which iwas dis.
regarded-a thrust which was parried
with the left. A second feint and o Sc
cond thrust were foiled in the same way.
Another feint, converted into real at
tack, was adroitly baffied. The officers
color rose-the eyes Of tho two professors
wore on him-his reputation and that of
bis teacher were at stake. He changed
his tactics; disengaging suddenly, he
raised his sword and discharged blow
ut tho head with seemingly irresistible
force. My little friend could only avert
tho assault by receiving the sword on tho
forte of his weapon and dropping as low
as possible; so far was the party success
full, but the downward blow, which, in
reality, was only the drant courier, being
followed by thrust Under guard, was
only parried by the rapid use of the left
chief, for the blood was seen to flow from
the hand called into requisition. Tho
officer, in making this last thrust, owing
to the slippery ground, had given an
opening, which my friend, in spite of the
previous cautions of his instructor, pre-
pared to take advantage of. The circum-
stance was noticed by Di Pratt, who
frowned ominously, and muttered, be-
meath his breath:
eff he break guard, he is lost -hah
bravo! bravo!'
Tho words of approval were drawn
from him by noticing whit had happen
cd. The last thrust. have said, brought
the officer just barely within range. BY
II dex:erous movement of the wrist, tho
point of my friends sword was drawn
swiftly across the officers chest. The
temper and keenness of tho Moorish
weapon wore clearly proved, for the touch,
light as it appeared, laid open the flesh
and muscles to the bone, from the left
shoulder sheer across tho breast, causing
a deluge of blood to follow.
The officer, finding himself severely
wounded, became crimson with rage;
curbing his passion, he prepared to exc
cute the favorite mannuvre which, hith-
erto, had proved fatal to his opponents.
He advanced on my friend, and making
a strong cross to his sword, put forth his
wonderful strength of wrist.
My attention was called off for mo-
ment to Di Pratt, who drew ont his hand
kerchief, held it moment and suddenly
dropped it.
Not moment too soon. The officer
had made his open and delivered thr lst
full at the body of my friend, who, hav
ing seen the handkerchief drop, brought
his left hand again into play. This time
two fingers fell to the ground. The next
instant, terrific yell assured me that
something fatal had occurred. La rispostc
had been given; my friends blade was
buried deeply in the lower part of the Of
ficer's body. The officer, instinctively
feeling that the wound was mortal, seized
the sword with one hand and shortening
his own, made desperate lunge only to
be warded off by my friend quitting hold
of his sword and leaping back out of dis
tance. The force of the thrust carried
the officer forward, 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 in death.