Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1874-02-28

II think ! could, your high
ness"
"Think SOL Not sure, eh 90
pardon me, your highness, /
have no doubt of it,"
Lubenski!" again shouted the
prince.
"a lance and horse. Quick!"
"But your highness-" / inter-
posed.
"Ha! you are afraid 2"
81 am not afraid; but with
your highness / should experience
equal reluctance to be the victor or
the vanqHished."
"All nonsense and fattery ?
First trial was capital. Now for
the second"
AT this moment the officer APP
peared before the windows of the
palace leading magnificent horse,
and bearing lance in his hand.
"Now, them" exclaimed Con-
stantine, as he dashed out of the
room, and made sign for me to
follow him: "Give him a good sa-
Der, Lubenski; and now, my Eng
lishman, mind yourself or yeu
will be spitted like one of the
toads in my summer house. The
last lived three days, Rodna,"
said he, turning to that general,
with a nail through his body"
So saying, the prince sprang on
his steed. With great skill he put
the animal through the most diff
ficult evolutions, at the same time
executing sunGry parties and
thrusts with his lance.
"All ready?" he cried, riding up
to me.
"Ready, your highncss," was
the reply, and he, setting spurs to
his horse, galloped on to the fur
ther end of the avenue.
"Surely all this is a joke?" |
said 70 Rodna."
"By no MEANS" was the reply
You will either lose your life or
gain your appointment! Defend
yourself as you would if you were
on battle field"
Matters had taken much more
serious turn than | had antici-
pated. Had / considered myself
at liberty to return blow for blow,
| could have taken my chance
without uneasiness; but finding
myself bound to control, as well as
to use keen edged sabre, while
exposed to the sharpened lance of
reckless and royal antagonist,
the chances of the diversion were
decidedly against me. 1t was too
late, however, to draw back.
| summoned to my aid all the
GOODNESS and address owned, and
prepared to face the Czarowitsch,
who had already reached the end
of the advance, and turned his
horse about. The animal adj
vanced at full speed, Constantine
being crouched down upon his
neck in such manner that he
was nearly concealed oy the
abundant name.
When he reached me he made
a point at my breast; but | par
ried his thrust, and bounding on
one side, horse and rider, carried
away by their mpetuOsity,
passed by without doing the
slightest injury.
Without giving me time for
objection or remark, he took
space for his career and after
asking me if was ready, re-
turned to the charge with great
fury. AS before, | kept my eyes
fixed on his, and not one of his
motions escaped me. AT the de
cisive moment | parried Ell parle,
and, by "a spring to the right,
made his second attack rs harm
less as the first.
Uttering a howl of disappoint-
ment, the Czarowitsch entered
into the spirit of our fitting match
az ardently as if it had been real
combat, and had, moreover, made
up his mind that it should termi-
nate in his favor but when saw
him retracing the ground for the
third assault, / resolved that it
should be tn" last.
Again he advanced toward me
with WhirlWiud speed this tune,
however, without contentIng my
self with a mere parry, | dealt
violent back handed blow on the
poll of the lance, which was sew
cred by the stroke, and N0nstan-
tine felt himself disarmeu. Then
quick as thought, | seized the
bride of the horse, and by
violent jerk threw him ON his
launches, at the same time placing
HE point Of my sabre on the
breast of the rider.
General Rodna uttered cry of
u.arIn he thought | Was Vuing to
XIII the, Prince. Constantine also
had the same Impression, for tht
color left his cheek Tor an Instant.
~tnnI,in1ra nn1.,.- lA.a1.L AN.IrtI ami