The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-11-01
STAR CATHOLIC MESSENGER 1874

EN- l., 1919
bare his sinewy arms, the sight of which struck
with amazement the soldiers who were stand
ing by. Leroux, too, threw from him his sword
and dagger, and SO remained totally unarmed;
then turning to his comrades, he said:
"Mind, come what viii, let there be fair
play; he's q brave fellow, this Flemingw
care you ready 2" cried Breydel.
"Ready!" was the answer.
The word was given, and the combatants
advanced upon one another, their heads thrown
back, their eyes flashing their brows knit,
their lips and teeth forcibly pressed together;
like two furious bulls they rushed upon each
other.
heavy blow resounded upon either breast,
as of hammer upon anvil, and both reeled
backwards from the shock, which, however,
did but inhame their rage the more. A short,
deep growl mingled with their heavy breath
ing, and with their arms they seized each other
round the body as in wise of steel. Every
limb was strained to the uttermost, every nerve
quivered, every muscle was in play; their veins
swelled, their eyes became bloodshot, their
brows from red grew purple, aud from purple
livid but neither could win upon the other by
an inch of ground one would have said their
feet were rooted where they stood.
After some time spent in this desperate
struggle, the Frenohman suddenly made stop
back wards, twined his arms round Breydeps
neck, and taking . firm purchase forced the
Fleming's head forwards and downwards, 80 -
in some degree to disturb his balance; then,
following up his advantage without the loss
of moment, Leroux made yet another effort
with increased energy, and Breydel sank on
one knee beneath the overpowering attack.
"The Lion is on his knees alreadyp cried
the French champion, triumphantly, dealing
at the same time blow ON the head Of the
butcher that might have felled an OK, and well
nigh laid him prostrate to the ground. But to
do this with effect, he had been obliged to re-
lease Breydel with one hand, and, at the very
moment that he was raising his fist to repeat
the blow, the latter extricated himself from
the single grasp which held him, rose from the
ground, and reiterated some few PAGES then
rushing upon his adversary with the speed of
lightning, he seized him round the body with
hug like that of a forrest bear, SO that every
rib cracked again. The Frenohman, in his
turn, wound his limbs about his foe with a
terrible vigor, strengthened by practice and
directed by skill, SO that the Fleming felt his
touched the ground.
An unwonted sensation stole into BreydePs
heart as though for the first time in his life it
had begun to fail him. The thought was'mad-
ness; but, even like madness, it gave him
strength suddenly loosng his hold, and again
retreating, at the same time lowering his head,
like a furious bull he rushed upon Leroux, and
butted him in the chest, before the Frenchman
oh 10 ,cS - g..
new attack. Keeling under the shock, blood
burst from his nose, mouth, and ears while
at the same moment, like q stone from o cata-
skull with a long cry he fell heavily to the
EARTH and all was over.
"Now you feel the Lions clawsp cried
Breydel
The soldiers who had been witnesses of the
conflict had indeed encouraged the French
| champion by their shouts bat had vigorously
abstained from any further interference. They
now crowded about their dying comrade, and
raised him in their arms while Breydel, with
slow and deliberate steps, retired from the
ground, and made his way back to the room
where the quarrel had begun. Here be called
for another stoup of beer, from which he has
tily and repeatedly drank to quench his burn
ing thirst.
He had now been sitting there some time,
| and was beginning to recover himself from the
fatigue of the combat, when the door opened
behind him, and before he could turn his head
| he was seized by four pair of powerful hands,
and roughly thrown upon the ground, while in
a moment after the room was filed by armed
soldiers. For some time he maintained fruit
less struggle against numbers /; but at last, ex-
hausted with this new conflict. he ceased to
resist, and lay still. regarding the Frenchmen
with one of those terrible looks that precede a
death-blow given received. Not few of
the soldiers looked on the Fleming, as he lay
with hearts i'll at ease, SO fiercely and threat
eningly did his flaming eyes glare upon them.
knight, whose dress sufficiently betokened
his rank, now approached; and after ordering
his men to keep a secure hold upon the prisoner,
$50, scoundrel ~ said he, we know one an