The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-10-24
The Prairie Duel.

corner of one of the great prairies was
counted by the few hunters and settlers
occupying it as a district in itself and
they called it Little Elk Prairie.
Among the half-wild characters who
had built for themselves novels of drift
wood and brush on this bit of rolling
plain was huge, hulking fellow of
mixed French, Canadian, Indian, and
negro blood, whose name was Bendbow
Laval. A complete savage in appear
ance, this man Laval reminded one for
cibly. OF the stage representation of the
"Jlbbenalnosy" as presented by Mr..
Proctor. But his clothing was far more
scanty than is permitted to make-ups"
by the exigencies of the stage. Whether
IN summer or winter, it never consisted
OF more than two garments-a ragged
shirt and trowsers, the material of
which was rendered problematical by
age and dirt. The mass of woolly, iron
gray hair by which his head was thatch-
ed was crowned by something that had
once been portion of hat, and his
immense, sto 3kingless feet were thrust
into rude cowslzin Shoes with holes cut
in them to accommodate certain ne
culiarities of shape and pedal excre-
scence.
From his huge size and muscular de-
velopment, Laval was more than a
match for any one of the dwellers on
Little Elk Prairie, none of whom were
" chickens as regarded physical
strength. Entirely devoid of education
for he did not know one letter of the
alphabet from another-nevertheles ess,
the great coarse fellow had sort of
chivalry about him, which might or
might not have been derived from his
strain OF French blood. His apprecia-
ton OF the benefits and etiquette of
dueling was intense, and he had more
than once killed his antagonist in C fair
fight.
A much more dangerous man to deal
with than Laval was Habakkuk Sans,
by origin Yankee, as his name denotes,
but prairie man by prediction and
long residence
"Hab," as he was called " for short"
by the men of the plain, was thin,
wiry man, of middle age, with brick
red complexion, and very light hair.
lie was an excellent marksman, and had
a reputation for courage, shown in en-
counters with Indians and bears; but
he always preferred willy stratagem to
skill or strength for the discontinue of
his foes.
He had had several disputes with
Laval, on the common basis of accusa-
tions that each was in the habit of
stealing animals from the others traps.
This, in the code of the plains, is an un-
pardonable offense, Just as horse-steal-
ing is in some of the more remote States
and Territories. Men caught in the
act have frequently been killed on the
spot; and when the delinquent was an
Indian, there are traditions of his hay-
ing been tortured before being put to
death.
Whether Hab Sans had ever defraud-
ed Laval, by purloining fur-creatures
from the traps set by the latter, never
transpired. But that Laval was a fur
thief was established beyond doubt
when he was seen carrying to his hovel
one day black wolf, eau ght in trap
set by Hab, and which the latter had
left there purposely to test the honesty
of his rival.
Hab's first idea was to draw bead
upon the purloiner of his property, and
so adjust the matter without any need
OF further reference or appeal. On
further consideration, however, he ap-
preached Laval, and, taxing him with
the theft, demanded restitution of his
property, or "reason why"
"Take that, them howled the huge
mixed-breed, hurling the wolf with
such force at Hab that it knocked him
down, and sent him spinning to dis
tance of several feet.
In a moment Hab Sans had risen on
one knee, and, taking aim at his antago
mist, fired, but without effect, owing to
the furry caused by the suddenness of
the assault. On proceeding to reload
his rifle, he remembered that he had no
powder; but Laval was in a similar
predicament for all the powder in the
place had been expended in a recent
hunt, and they were awaiting the ar
rival OF messenger with some from the
nearest trading-post.
Drawing their knives then, the two
approached each other for deadly con-
tiict, which would have been an UNEQUAL
one' however, owing to the superior
size and strength of Laval, who was
also proficient in the use of the knife.
knowing how slight his chance was
with such an antagonist, Hab Sans
paused, and, looking fxedly at Laval,
said:
"If you are man, and not coward
~ sneak, you will fight it out with me
IN another way, and give me an equal
chance for my life"
What way do you want to fix it,
then I" said the other. "Im as good as
you, anyhow, and amt afraid to get
square with you any way you please.
Name your fxin', and I'll go you even
on it,"
Well, then," rejoined Hab, "here's
what Well do, if you've heart enough
to do 1t, as l have; let's go to the place
where the prairie-dogs burrow, away
over there. The rattlesnakes that live
there are big, and unfailing with their
deadly fangs Let each of use choose a
burrow, lie down in front of it, thrust
his arm in to the shoulder, and wait to
see which of us'll die first You're too
white-livered cuss to fight it out that
way with me, eh ?"
Fearful to back out from this horrible
proposition, lest his reputation for valor
might become tarnished forever, Laval
agreed to it, trusting that, if one only
keeps still, rattlesnakes are not apt to
bite.
The matter was arranged as follows
they were to meet next morning, half
an hour before sunrise, with one wit
ness, who was to act as umpire for both.
sal, n