The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-02-18
An Amusing Duel.

An old East Indian officer, in giving
some "reminiscences in Chambers Jour
nal, tells this story; Tainton's regiment
was stationed at the Straits Singapore,
Malacca, and Penang), but he was Off
clatlng AS brigade major while the real
incumbent was absent on furlough at
the Cape. He was known TO be an ex-
traordinary shot with gun, rifle and
| pellet bow Nothing could rufile him
outwardly, but pity the man who in
| suited him, for Tainton, with a smile,
would think no more of throwing him
out of window than he would of kick
ing a cur down stairs. He was a lamb
IN appearance, but a very lion in cOur-
age and strength, and neither drank,
gambIed nor quarreled; but in those
duelng days even he could not at times
avoid the wager to battle" D., a
fooIishIy irate and somewhat tipsy man,
moreover only late arrival, took UNI
bragg at some remarks of a perfectly
inoitensive nature made by Tainton, and
the usual challenge followed, There is
limit to the greatest forbearance, and
my gallant friend was tired of being
made a target of, so consented TO 90
out provided his terms were acceded
to- and these We're that they were to be
placed face to face at fifteen yards or
less, he to be armed with his pellet-bow
alone, and his adversary to load his own
weapon and that from the moment the
word "Load!n was given, each party
was to be at liberty to do with his weap-
on what he chose. The seconds knew
Iainton well, and they anticipated some
fun from the novel duel; SO, while con-
senting to the terms, they made them
known all over the station The day
arrived. Tainton's adversary strongly
protested against such strange duel;
but he was told he had no choice; as
the right of choosing weapons lay with
the challenged. So D., more irate
than ever, went to the place of meeting,
yowing he would drill hole through
his man for making such fool of him.
The whole plain was crowded with spec
tators. The two stood face to face,
Tainton with his pockets full of harden
ed pellets and his bow; D. with an
ordinary pistol The word ''Loadm be-
ing given, D lifted his powder flask,
when rap, rap, came two pellets on his
knuckles, and he dropped his pistol and
flask as if they had been red hot! The
byStanders screamed with laughter.
D got more savage, and hastily
picking up the pistol and flask, tried to
load; but a similar visitation as before
made him drop them again, whilst an
other rap, rap, made him turn his back
on his foe. The seconds now interfered
and declared the duel at an end, because
the conditions had been violated by
D, who was led off the ground
foaming with rare. But little rchec-
ton and n little inquiry into the antece-
dents and character of the antagonist
he had to deal with convinced him of
the folly of quarreling with such man,
and a party was rot up at mess, where
the two met and shook hands.
Tainton's skill with the Indian pellet
bow was something marvellous. He
had been known, for wager, with
five pellets to knock over three snipe;
and the Scpoys and native officers of
his regiment not only loved him, but
believed him to be possessed of super
natural powers, and We're ever fond of
relating the most improbable stories of
him, and nothing would convince them
to the contrary. One story was, that
with hard pellet he could drill hole
in an earthen-ware waterproof, and with
u soft one fill it up again!