Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-03-06


emily a Frcnchman
t First we drew mp the principals viii. |
/ insisted upon this, and stuck to my point.
l said had never heard OF man in his
right mind going out to fight duel with
ont first making his will. lie said he had
never heard OF man in his right mind
doing anything Of the kind When we had
| finished the sill. he wished to proceed to
a choice OF his last words" He wanted
to know how the following words. as a
dying exclamation. struck nc:
Il die for my God. for my country, for
freedom of speech. for progress. and the
! universal brotherhood Of man y"
Iobjccted that this would require too
lingering Il death; it was a good speeci! for
a consunpiivc, but not suited to the eNi-
gencies o. the field of honor We wranoled
over good many ante-mortcm outbursts.
but finally got him to cut his obituary
down to this. w.ich he copied in his mem
orandum book, pulpos;ng to get it BY
heart:
Il die that France may live"
said that this remark seemed to lack
relevancy; but he said relevancy was
matter of no consequence in last words
what you wanted was thrill.
The next thing in order was the choice
Of weapons. NV principal said he was not
feeling Well, ani would leave that and the
other details of the proposed meeting TO
me. Therefore | wrote the following note
and carried ii TO II. FoUrton's friend:
S!g:-M Gambetta accepts n. Fourtou's
challenge. aud authorizes me to propose
rlessiS-Piquet us the place of meeting; to-
morrow morning at daybreak as the time;
and axes as the weapons.
| am sir, with great respect.
MARK TWAIN.
NJ. Fourtou's friend read this note. and
shudlered. Then he turned to ne. and
said with suggestion OF severity in his
tone:
Have YOU considered. sir. what would
be the inevitable result of such Il meeting
as tli>:''
"Well. for instance, what would be:'
"Blootislled -
''That's abont the size of it," said
Now, if it is i f;lig question. what was
your side proposing to shcd:"
had him, there. He saw he had made
4 blunder. SO he hastencd to explain i
away. lie said he had spoken icSincly.
Then he added that he and bis principa.
would enjoy axes, and indeed prefer theni
but such weapons were barred in tie
French code, and SO | must change nv
proposal.
/ walked the floo- turning the thin
over in my mind, and finally it occurred 10
me that Calling guns AT fifteen pace
would be a likely way to get verdict Oh
the field of honor. 50 framed this idea
into proposition.
Bat il was not accepted. The code was
in the way again. | proposed rifles then !
douh!e-barreied s.!ot-Cuns; then Colts |
navy reyolyers. These being Ill rejected. |
| reelected Il while. and sarcasticaliy suc-
ges.ed br:ck-ba:s - t',rcc-quarters OF a |
mile. | always hat ro fool away a humor-
tiCn of humor; and it filled me with bitter
ness when this man went soberly away to |
submit this last proposition to his princi-
pal.
lie came back presently, and said his
principal was charmed with the idea of
brick-bats ut three-qnarters of mile. bu!
must decline on account Of the danger TO
parties passing bet ween.
Then said:
"Wcll, l am at the end OF my string.
now. Perhaps YOU would be kind enough
70 suggest a weapon: Perhaps you have
even had one in your mind all the timer
His courtenance frightened, and he said
With alacrty:
"Oh. without doubt, monsieur
So he tell to hunting in his pockets
pocket after pocket. and he had plenty of
hem,-lnuttering all the while, Now.
what could have done with them?'
At last he was successful. He fished ont
If his vest pocket a couple of little things
which carried to the light and discovered
o be pistols. They were single-barreled
nd silver mounted, and very dainty and
,retty. was not able to speak for emo
ion. silently hung one of them to my {
watch chain, and returned the other NY
in crime now unrOlled post {
:ge-stamp containing several cartridges. I
nd gave me one of them. | asked if he |
meant to signify by this that our men t
we're to be allowed but one shot apiece. |
lie replied that the code permitted no t
nore. then begged him to go on and t
uggest Il distance. for my mind was grow I
~ weak and confused under the strain
Which had been put upon it. He named S
ixty-fye yards. nearly lost my patience. t
said:
'.Sixty-five yards, with these instrn- Ii
,ents? Pop-gnns would be deadlier at II
fly. Consider, my friend, you and are
anded together to destroy lite, not make c
eternal" |
But with all my persuasions. all my ar
was only able to get him to re- D
uce the distance to thirty-tive yards; and I
ven this concession he made with reluc- o
lnce, and said with sigh: o
IL wash my hands OF this slaughter; on t
our head be it," II
There was nothing Tor me but TO go
ome to my old lion heart and tell my C
story. When entered. NJ. c
was laying his last lock OF hair t
pom the altar. He sprang towards me q
!!
.You have made the fatal arrangements. Il
see it in your eye!' Il
II have" Il
His face paled trifle, and he leaned up 2
n tine table for support. He breathed thick Il
Id heavily for moment or two. so tu- b
ultueus were his feelings; then he hoarse-
whispered: q
1.-The weapon, the weapon! Quick b
hat is the weapOnT' Il
s.This!" and l displayed the silver 81
ounted thing. He caught but one glimpse
1t, then swooned ponderously to the al
Dor. Il
When he came to, he said mournfully: b
1.-The unnatural calm to which have "
Injected myself has told upon my nerves. In