Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-07-28
Solving "a Tough Problem.

in Paris; and most assuredly he was n
good shot. He performed all the feats
which tradition assigns to the Chevalier
| ST. George; he each time hit the bulls
| eye of the target ut the usual distance,
snutfed n candle with the ball, split n
bullet against the edge of knife, and
drove II nail into a wall by striking the
| head directly III the center with his ball !;
and, in short, by thousand feats of this
nature proved himself worthy the name
of tirst-rate shot.
His amour prOpre was reused by the
presence of Jack, whom the attendant,
in presenting him with the pistol,
quietly said was almost as good shot as
| himself, but ut each shot, instead of re-
ceiving from Jack the tribute of praise
which he deserved, he heard Jack, in
reply to the exclamation of astonishment
which proceeded from all in the gallery,
say "No doubt, that is very good shot,
but the result would be very different,
I've n notion, if he had n live man for his
butt" This incessant calling in Ques-
tion of his powers rs a duelist, for Jack
had repeated his observation three times,
Mt first astonished the "tire,v," and end
ed by annoying him; and, at length,
turning round to Jack, and looking at
him with IN air half threatening, he said:
Forgive me, Mr. Englishman, but it APP
pears to me that three times You have made
an observation disparaging to my cour-
age; will you be kind enough to give me
some explanation of the meaning of your
words?"
"My words" answered our friend, edo
not, / think, require any explanation;
they are plain enough in my opinion.
Perhaps then, sir, you will be good
enough to repeat them, in order that l
may Judge of the meaning which they
will bear, and the object with which they
have been spoken, was the reply of the
Frenchman.
Il said," answered Jack, with the
most perfect sang .froid, ''when | saw
you hit the bulls-eye at every shot, that
neither your hand nor your eye would
be SO steady, if your pistol were pointed
against the breast of man i'll the place
of wooden partition.
"And why, may / ask?'
Because" answered Jack, "It seems
to me, that at the moment of pulling the
trigger, and firing at man, the mind
would be seized with kind of emotion
likely to unsteady the hand, and conse
quently the aim"
"You have fought many duels?" asked
the Frenchman.
"Not one" said Jack.
"Ah! reioined the other with n slight
sneer, "then am not surprised that you
suppose the possibility of man being
afraid under such circumstances"
Forgive me, ;" said Jack, ''yob misun-
derstood me. | fancy that at the moment
when one man is about to kill another, he
may tremble from some other emotion
than that of fear.
"Sir! | never tremble," said the shot.
Possibly" replied Jack, with the
same composure; 'still | am not at all
convinced, that at twenty-five PAGES, that
is, at the distance at which you hit the
bull 's-eye each. time"
"Well, at twenty paces?' interrupted
the other.
"You would miss your man. was the
cool reply.
"Sir, assure you | should not, ans
wered the trenchman.
Forgive me if / doubt your word"
said Jack
"You mean then to give me the ie?"
81 merely assert the fact, " replied our
friend.
"A fact, however, which | think you
would scarcely like to establish, said the
"rcte,r."
"Why not?" said Jack, looking steadi-
ly at his antagonist.
"By proxy, perhapsy
"By proxy, or in my own person per-
haps, care not which, said Jack.
warn you, you would be somewhat
RASH"
'Not at all, said Jack, for l merely
say what l think; and, consequently, |
my conviction is that | should risk but |
little"
'Let us understand each other" said
the Frenchman; you repeat to me a
second time, that at twenty-five PAGES |
should miss my man.
"You are mistaken, monsieur, said |
Jack; lit appears to me that this is the |
fifth time that / have said 1t.
"Parbleu?" said the Frenchman, now
thoroughly exasperated, 'this is too |
much; you want to insult me-"
"Think as you like, monsieur" said
Jack.
"Good!" said the other, ''your hour,
sir?"
"Why not now?" said Jack.
"The place." said the other.
eve are but five steps from the Bois
de Bologne," f." cried Jack.
"Your arms, sir?"
"The pistol, of course, was Jack $ an
swer, 'we are not about to fight duel,
but to decide point upon which we are
at issue"
The two young men entered their ca
briolets, each accompanied by friend,
and drove towards the Bois de Bologne. |
Arrived at the appointed place, the sec
onds wished to arrange the matter. This
however, was very difficult; Jacks adj
versary required on apology, whilst Jack
maintained that he owed him none; un-
less he himself was either killed or
wounded; for unless this happened, he
(Jack) would not have been proved
wrong. The seconds spent quarter of
an hour in the attempt to effect a recon
ciliation, but in vain. They then wished
to place the antagonists at thirty PAGES
from each other; to this Jack would not
consent, observing that the point in
question could not be correctly decided,
if any difference were made between the
distance now to be fixed, and the dis