The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-02-26

and their cases of instruments; then
eight private carriages containing con-
sulting surgeons; then a hack contain
ing the coroner; then the two hearses;
then a carriage containing the head un2
dertakers; then a train of assistants and
mutes on foot; and after these came
Flooding through the fog a long pro-
cession of camp-followers, police and
citizens generally. It was a noble turn.
out, and would have made a fine dis
play if We had had thinner weather.
The police noticed that the pubic mad
massed themselves together On the right
and left of the field they therefore
begged a delay, while they should put
these poor people in a place of safety.
The request was granted. Tie police
having ordered the two multitudes to
take positions behind the duelists, we
were once more ready. The weather
growing still more Opaque. it was agreed
between myself and the other second
that before giving tho fatal signal we
should each deliver a loud whoop to en-
able the combatants TO ascertain each
others whereabouts.
I now returned to my principal, and
was distressed to observe that he had
lost q good deal of his spirit. I tried
my best to hearten him. l said: elm
deed, sir, things are not as bad as they
seem. Considering the character OF the
weapons, the limited number OF shots
allowed, the generous distance, the i'm
penetrable solidity of the fog, and the
added fact that one of the combatants is
one-eyed and the other cross-eyed and
near-sighted, it seems to me that this
conflict need not necessarily be fatal.
There are chances that both OF you may
survive. Therefore, cheer up do not
be down-hearted."
This speech had so good al effect that
my principal Immediately stretched forth
his hand and said:
81 am myself again ; give me the
weapon"
I laid it, all lonely and forlorn, in the
center of the vast solitude OF his pain.
He gazed at it and shuddered. And
still mournfully contemplating it he
murmured in a broken voice:
"A]as, it is not death I dread, but
mltilati on."
Iheartened him once more, and with
such success that he presently said:
"Let the tragedy begin. Stand at my
back; do not desert me in this solemn
hour, my friend"
Igave him my promise. Inow assist.
ed him to point his pistol toward the
spot where l Judged his adversary to be
standing, and cautioned him to listen
we'll and further guide himself by my
fellow-second's whocp. Then I propped
myself against NJ. Gambetta's back, and
raised q rousing "Whoop-ee !" This
was answered from out the far distances
of the fog, and I Immediately shouted
Observation-Disclosures
Two little sounds like spit! spit
broke upon my ear, and in the same
instant I was crushed to the earth
under a mountain of flesh. Buried as I
was, I was still able to catch a faint
accent from above, to this effect:
81 die for-for-deuce take it, what
is it I die for ?-oh, yes-France! I
die that France may live?"
The surgeons swarmed around with
their probes in their kan7s and applied
their microscopes to the whole area of
NJ. Gambetta's person, with the happy
result of finding nothing in the nature
OF a wound. Then scene ensued which
was in every way gratifying and inspirit-
ing.
The two gladiators fell upon each
others necks, with foods Of proud and
happy tears; that other second embraced
me; the surgeons, the orators, the IN
dertakers, the police, everybody en-
braced, everybody congratulated, every
body cried, and the whole atmosphere
was filed with praise and with Joy IN
speakable. It seemed to me then that
I would rather be the hero of a French
duel than a crowned and sceptred mon
arch.