Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-03-28

| took the knives-one from his bosom
and the other from his sleeye-and tolC
me to keep them un til he returned.
1t seems that Joe found boat ready
to take him of to the ship at once, fol
he was not gone over three-quarters OF
an hour, and when he came back he had
two superbly-mounted pistols with him.
He loaded them with powder in the
presence of the Spaniard, and then
handing him ball, he asked him if he
would mark it so he would know il
again. The fellow hesitated at first,
but at length he took it with a mad
gesture, and bit it between his teeth.
81 shall know that" he said, "unless
it is battered against your bones"
"Now select your pistol" said Joe
The man took them both, and exam
ined them, but he was satisfied that they
were both alike, and both good, and he
told Joe he had no choice. So our stew
ard put the balls in, and rammed them
carefully down.
The whole party now adjourned to a
wide court, back of the cafe, where
twelve PAGES were marked off, and the
combatants took their stations. | trem-
bled for poor Joe, for saw not yet
how he would make fun of this.
Count" cried the Spaniard, impa-
tiently.
''One-two-threen'
The captain fired first, and with a
most deliberate aim. Joe fired into the
air. Then the latter walked deliberately
up to his antagonist, and taking bullet
from between his teeth, he handed it TO
him.
''You can use this next time" said
Joe.
The officer looked first at Joe's teeth,
and then at the ball. 1t was surely the
same one he had seen put into the pis-
tol, and now he had seen his foeman
take il from his mouth. He was unmis-
takably astounded-
"Come," cried Joe, ''let's load
again.
.'San Pablo"' exclaimed Bizar, 'yOu
use somewhat you call him-some
trick, he? BY San Jago, 1 shall load
the pistol myself
''Do so," said Joe, calmly, and as he
spoke he handed over his powder-flask.
The Spaniard poured out an extra
quantity of powder, and having poured
it in the pistol, he called for the ram
mer. He then put in the same ball he
had used before. Meanwhile Joe had
been loading his own pistol.
''One moment" said Joe, reaching out
his hand. ''The caps are in the butt of
your pistol. Let me get them.
The fellow passed over his pistol, but
he kept his eyes upon it. Joe opened a
little silver spring at the end of the
butt. and, true, there were some per-
cussion caps there. He took out two,
and having capped his own pistol, he
gave it a toss in the air, catching it
adroitly as it came down, and then
handed back the other to the Spaniard.
| had watched Joe most carefully, but
/ saw nothing out of the way. And yet
he had changed pistols rith his foe.
"Now," said he, 'sI'll put ball
into my pistol, and then We'll be
ready"
He slipped something in which looked
to me like cartridge, but no one else
saw it.
"Now," cried the Spaniard, ''let's see
you hold this in your mouth"
Again they took their stations, and
again they were ready.
"On n4-two-threei
And thu Spaniard fired first by aim,
Joe firing into the air as before. And
again Joe stepped forward and took the
self-ss me bullet from his mouth and
handed it to his antagonist The fellow
was completely dumfounded, and so
were the rest.
'.You no fire at me.' gasped the cap
tain.
"I'll fire at you next time!" said Joe,
in tone of thunder. "Thus far | have
only shown you that powder. and ball
can have no effect on me. Twice have
you fired at me with as true pistol as
ever was made, and both times have I
caught your ball between my teeth,
while 1 have fired in the air. meant
that you should live long enough to
know that for once in your life you had
seen, if not the old fellow himself
(pointing meaningly downward), at
least one who is in his employ! The
old gentleman will like the company of
captain of Spanish infantry, and III
send you along. Come, load up again ~
But the astonished Spaniard did not
seemed inclined TO do so. A man vino
swallowed carving knives as he would
sardines. and who caught pistol-balls
between his teeth, was not exactly the
man for him TO deal with. While he
was pondering upon what he had seen,
Joe took handful of bullets from his
pocket, and began to toss them rapidly
down his throat, and when these were
gone, he picked up half-a-dozen good
sized stones and sent them after the
bullets.
.sHoly Santa Marie!" calculated the
Spaniard, while his eyes seemed start
ing from their sockets. "What a Rlan.
By nv soul, tits the DEVIL RI
And as he thus spoke, he turned on
his heel and hurried away from the
place. After he was gone, Joe beckoned
for me to give him the knives. did SO,
and then saw him slip them up his coat
sleeves. When we returned TO the CAFE
he approached the keeper. asi
You want your knives Z" he said.
But the poor fellow dared not speak.
Joe put his hand to his right ear and