Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-04-09
A CONTEST WITH FOILS.
4 STRIKING STORY OF A RUSSIAN DUKE.

| reached the convent of St. Sergius, the saint
most venerated in Russia after St. Alexander
Nieuski. A few minutes afterward arrived
at the castle, and was soou ushered into the
apartments of the empcror's brother. In one
of those discovered him standing with his
back to large fire, and distinguished by the
most forbidding countenance ever beheld.
He was tapping his boot with his ridng-whip,
and the undried splashes of mud on his pan
falcons indicated that he had but recently re-
turned from ride or review. At table
near him was seated General Rodna, pen in
hand and apparently writing under the
princes dctation.
The door was scarcely closed when the
czarowitsch, fixing on me his piercing eyes,
abruptly said:
"What is your age?"
"Six-and-twenty"
"Name?'
&C.,"
"You want to be fencing master to reg
iment?"
"May it please your highness, such is the
object of my ambition"
"Are you frst-rate swordsman ?"
81 have fenced in public several times since
my arrival in St. Petersburg, and your high
ness can easily ascertain the opinion of those
who were present"
"I have heard of you, but you had only
second.rate fencers to contend with"
(which gave them just claims upon my
forbearance, your highness."
"Forbearance !" he repeated with flashing
eyes, and a scornful curl on his lips; "but if
less considerate, what then ?"
81 should have buttoned them ten times
for every twice that they touched me, your
highness."
ala and could you do that with me?"
"That would depend on how your imperial
highness might wish to be treated. If as
prince, it is probable your highness would
touch me ten times and be touched twice.
But if your highness desired to be treated
like any other person, the ten hits would be
achieved by me, and the two by your high
ness"
"Lubensk" roared the czarowtsch, rub
bing his hands "Lubenski, bring the foils
We shall sec, Sir Braggadocio !"
"Is it possible your highness would conde'
scend-"
"My highness orders you to touch me ten
times if you can. Do you want to back out
already? Now take this foil and mask.
Guardw
"Is it your highnesss absolute commando"
eyes, yes!"
"I am ready"
"Ten times" repeated the prince, as he at
tackled me, "ten times, mind you; less won't
do, ha ha |"
Notwithstanding this encouragement, l
kept merely on the defensive, contenting my
self with parrying his thrusts without return
ing them.
"Now, then !" cried he, angrily, what are
you about? You are playing the fool with
me- Why don't you thrust?'
"Your highness the respect"
"Confound your respect, sir! Thrust, thrust?
Observing through his mask that his checks
we're flushed and his eyes bloodshot, took
advantage of the permission granted, and
touched him three times running.
"Bravo!" cried he. "My turn now. Ha !!
A hit! hitw
He had touched me. I then touched him
four times in rapid succession, and was then
touched once.
"Hurrah!" he cried, exultingly. "Rodna,
did you see that?" Twice to his seven."
"Twice to ten, your highness'' replied |,
pressing him very hard. Eight, nine, ten
Now we are quits"
"Good, good p cried the czarowitsch, ap-
provingly; "very good. But that's not all.
The small sword not enough-no use to the
cavalry; want the sabre. Now could you de-
fend yourself, on foot, against mounted
lancer? Parry lance thrust? Eh%
81 think | could, your highness."
"Think so Not sure, eh %
"Pardon me, your highness, l have no doubt
of it."
"Lubensk" 4" again shouted the prince.
The officer appeared.
"a lance and horse! Quick !"
"But, your highness," | interposed
"Ha! you are afraid p
81 am not afraid but with your highness
should experience equal reluctance to be the
victor or the vanqushed."
Cali nonsense and hattery. First trial was
capital Now for the second"
At this moment the officer appeared before
the windows Of the palace, leading magnih-
cent horse, and bearing lance in his hand.
"Now, then," exclaimed Constantine, as he
dashed out of the room, and made me sign
to follow him. "Gve him good sabre, Lu-
benski; and now, my Englshman, mind your
self, or you'll be spitted like one Of the toads
in nv summer-house. The last lived three
davs Rodna," he added, turning to that gen.
cral, "with nail through his belly"
So saying, the prince sprang upon his steed.
With great skill, he put the animal through
the most difficult evolutons, at the same time
executing sundry parties and thrusts with his
lance.
Call ready?" he cried, riding up to me.
"Ready, your highness," was my reply; and
he, setting spurs to his horse, galloped off to
the further end of the avenue.
Surely, all this is joke ?" said to Gen
eral Rodna.
"By no means" was the reply. "You will
either lose your life or gain your appointment.
Defend yourself as if you we're OH battle
field"
Matters had taken a much more serious
turn that had anticipated. Had consid-
cred myselfat liberty to return blow for blow,
l could have taken my chance without uneas-
mess; but finding myself bound to control, as
we'll as to use, a keen-edged sabre, while ex-
posed to the sharpened lance of a reckless and
a royal antagonist, the chances of the diver
sion were decidedly against me. 1t was too
late, however, to draw back.
summoned to my aid all the GOODNESS and
address l possessed, and prepared to face the
czarowitsch, who had already reached the end
of the avenue, and turned his horse about