The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-02-27

After a long silence he asked:
WAS nothing said about that mans
family standing up with him, as an off
set to my bulk? But no matter
would not stoop to make such sugges-
ton if he is not noble enough to sug-
gest himself he is welcome to this ad-
vantage, which no honorable man would
take.
AT what hour is that engagement
to begin :"
''Half past nine
Very good indeed. Have you sent
the fact to the newspapers ?"
Sir, If after our long and intimate
friendship you can for a moment deem
me capable of so base a treachery-"
Tut, tut, What words are these,
my dear friend? Have [ wounded you?
All, forgive me ; I am overlooking you
with labor. There, 90 on with the other
details and drop this one from your list
The bloody minded Fourtou will be sure
to attend to it. Or I myself-yes, to
make certain. [ will drop a note to my
journalistic friend, " Noir-'
ooh, come to think. you may save
yourself the trouble; that other second
has informed VI. Noir.''
Hi l might have known it. 1t
is just like that Fourtou, who always
wants to make a display
At halfpast nine in the morning the
procession approached the field of Pies
sis-Piquet in the following order: First
came our carr iage-nobody in it but NJ
Gambetta and myself; then carriage
containing NJ. Fourtou and his second;
then carriage containing two poet
orators who did not believe in God, and
these had MSS. funeral orations project
ing from their breast pockets; then a
carriage containing the head surgeons
and their cases of instruments then
eight private carriages containing con-
suiting surgeons; then hack contain
ing the coroner; then the two hearses
then a carriage containing the head
undertakes then train Of assistants
and mutes on foot and after these came
plodding through the fog long process
sion of camp-followers, police and citi-
zens generally. 1t was noble turn
out and would have made fine display
if we had had thinner weather.
The police noticed that the public had
massed themselves together on the right
and left of the field; they therefore
begged delay, while they should put
these poor people in a place of safety.
The request was granted. The police
having ordered the two multitudes to
take positions behind the duelists, we
were once more ready. The weather
still growing more Opaque, it was agreed
between myself and the other second
that before giving the fatal signal we
should each deliver a loud whoop to
enable the combatants to ascertain each
other's whereabouts.
l now returned to my principal, and
was distressed to observe that he had
lost a good deal of his spirit | tried
my best to hearten him | said: "In-
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-ayed and the other cross-eyed and
near-siehted, 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 an effect that
my principal Immediately stretched
forth his hand and said, Il am myself
again; give me the weapon
laid it, all lonely and forlorn, in the
centre of the vast solitude of his palm.
He gazed at it and shuddered And
still mournfully contemplating it he
murmured in a broken voice
"Alas, it is not death I dread, but
mutilation"
| heartened 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. "
gave him my promise. I now as
sisted him to point his pistol towards
the spot where | Judged his adversary
to lie standing, aud cautioned him to
listen we'll and further guide himself by
my fellow-second' 5 whoop. Then prop
ped myself against NJ. Gambetta's back
and raised a rousing "whoop-ee." This
was answered from out of the far dis
lance of the fog, and I Immediately
shouted:
Observation-Disclosures"
Two little sounds like spitt spitl
broke upon my ear, and in the same in-
slant was crushed to the earth under
mountain of flesh. Buried as | was, |
was still able to catch a faint accent
from above, to this effect:
Il die for for
pcrdition take it, what Is it | die for Z?
Nh Vas Tn ,Err' A.