The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-06-02
The Prairie Duel.

than it does in these days of railroads,
that "beat all creation" remote patch or
corner Of the great prairies was counted
by the few hunters and settlers occupying
it as district in itself, and they called it
Little Elk Prairie.
Among the halfwild characters who
had built for themselves of drilt-wood and
brush on the bit Of rolling plain was a
huge, bulky fellow of French Canadian,
Indian and negro blood, whose name was
Bendbow Laval. A complete savage in
appearance, his clothing, whether winter
or summer, never consisted of more than
two garments ragged shirt and trous-
ers, the material Of which was rendered
uncertain as to age and dirt. From his
huge size and muscular development, La
val was more than match for any one Of
the dwellers of Little Elk Prairie, none
of whom were "chickens" as regarded
physical strength Entirely devoid Of
education-for be did not know one letter
of the alphabet from another-neverthc.
less the great coarse fellow had a sort Of
chivalry about him which might or might
not have been derived from his share OF
French blood. His appreciation of the
benefits and etiquette of duelling was in.
tense, and he had more than once killed
his antagonist in fair fight.
A much more dangerous man to deal
with than Laval was Habakuk Sans, by
origin Yankee, as his name denotes, but
Q prairie man by long residence. Ilab,
as he was called by the men Of the plain,
was Il thin, wiry man oil middle age,
with a brick.red complexion and very
lieht hair lie was an excellent marks
m1n. aud had reputation for courage,
shown IN encounters with Indians and
bcars-but he always preferred mild stra-
tagem to skill or strength for the dlscom-
future of his foes He had several dis
putes with Laval on the common basis
of accusation tina, each was in the habit
of stealing animals from the others traps.
This, in the code Of the plains is an uu-
pardonable oifense Mqn caught in the
act have frequently been killed on the
spot. and when the offender was an lndi-
an there are traditions OF his having been
tortured before being put to death.
Whether llab Sans had ever detraud-
ed Laval by purloinng fur creatures from
the traps set by the latter, never trans.
prcj, But that Laval was a tur-thiet /
was established beyond doubt when he
was seen carrying, to his hovel, one day,
a black wolf caught in trap set by llab;
and which the latter had left there pur-
posely to test the honesty Of his rival.
IIabs first idea was to fire upon the pur-
loiner of his property, and so adjust the
matter without any need oil further re-
ference or appeal. On further considcra-
ton, however, he approached Laval, and
taxing him with the theft demanded res.
ttution of his property or reason why.
Take that, then, howlcd the huge
fellow, hurting the wolf with such a
force at IIab. that it knocked him down
and set him a spinning distance OF sew.
eral feet
10 moment Iieb Sans had risen On
one knee, and, taking aim at his anita
conist, fred, but without effect, owing 10
c the furry caused by the suddencss OF the
assault; On proceeding to reload he re-
membered that he had no powder-but
q Laval was in simi'ar predicament, for
5 all the powder in the place has been ex
: pended in n recent hunt, and they were
. awaiting the arrival of a messenger with
: some from the nearest trading post.
, Drawing their knives then, the two
i approached each other for deadly, which
0 would have been au unequal one, how.
: ever, owing 10 the superior strength ol
5 Laval, who was also proficient in the
1 use of the knife.
knowing how slight his chance was
' with such an antagonist, Ilab Sans paus
> ed, and looking fixedly at Laval, said
you are a man, aud not n cowardly
sneak, you will fight it cut with me in
another way, and give me an equa
= chance Tor my life.
What way DO you want 10 settle il
: then !? said the other, I'm as good al
you any how, aud amt afraid to &c
Il square with sou in any way you please
Name your plan, and I'll go you even OF
> il.
We'll, thea, reioiued lIab, 'here'
= = what well DO, il you have heart enough
i to 10 It, as have. Let's 20 to thu
d place where the prairie dogs burrow
: away over there, The rattlesnakes tina
g live there are big, and untailiDg witt
their deadly iangs Let each Of u
choose burrow, lie down in front OF i
aud wait to see which Of US will die iirst
. You're too white liyered fellow to fgh
it out that way with me, eh ?
Fearful to back out from this horribl,
proposition les. his reputation for yalo
night he ,arnshed forever, Laval agreed
to it, trusting that, if one only keeps still
rattlesuakes are not apt to bite, Th'
matter was arranged as follows
q They were to meet ueYt morning, hal
an hour before sunrise, with one witnes
, to act as umpire for both The burrov
iu which they were to place their hand
}. were to be selected by this umpire, VIII
was TO see them properly and impartial,
placed. There they were to remain un
Ill the first ray of the sun beamed abov
Il the horizon, few minutes before whicl
il is the habit of rattlesnakes to craw
s forth from their dens. The umpire wa
a to notify them of the rise of the sun, a
i, which moment they we're to be free to g
their ways should they have escaped tn
e fangs of the venemous reptiles. The hon
,t or Of both was then to be considered full,
n satisfied, and from this there was to b
E. no appeal.
a 1t must have been terrible time, tha
o quarter of an hour before sunset, to in
IA victims OF the etiquette with which tn
d duello ever has been romantic. Perhap
" Hab Sans did not feel it so acutely a
IS his rival, for reasons best known to him
5, self.
ID The first gleam of dawn now reddcne'
r. up the horizon, and at word from tn