Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1883-05-19
WHOLE NO. 2,474.
lie regiment was a different

thing.
Therefore Gabriel caught but lit
tie sleep that night and was not sor-
ry to be reused an hour before day.
break by his friend Carrera, who
came with several other gentlemen,
nutfied in long spanish cloaks, and
proved to be as many gay young
Spaniards, armed to the teeth and
all anxious for the coming affair.
The party occupied two carriages
and drove out into the Deer Forest
so called-SOme miles from Ber-
| lin, where affairs of honor were
usually settled.
They drove rapidly through the
growing daWn'and just as the gray
light became clear the carriage turn
ed down an old side road family
marked with wheel-tracts and final
| ly drew up in the midst OF green
| clearing, shut in on all sides by
| brown fading woods.
In this clearing, were gathered at
least dozen officers of cuirassiers,
who bowed formally as the carria-
ges drove up.
When Gabrlel's party alighted,
| threw off their long cloaks and dis
| NiOoCh AiiC ltlGA biltlk GdCll
had carbine and pair of pistols,
there was general murmur of an
ger from the cuirassiers, and Lieu
tenant Schilling exclaimed
"What does this mean mess
ieurs ?"
at MEANS" said Don Luis, sharp
ly, "that we are not going to be
forced into an unequal and unfair
contest, gentlemen. What do you
mean by bringing so many of your
| friends to witness this duel. You
all wear swords, / perceive. Very
well, we wear pistols, also. IL you
want fair duel we are ready. If
you want "A general mob quarrel we
are ready, too"
His words had their effect on the
Prussians, who saw that their plan
of killing the obnoxious French
man was of no avail in the face OF
firearms and they cooled down and
protested they had no such inten-
tions as Don Luis suspected.
"Then," said Carrera, "bring on
your man. Here is mine, ready,
for one duel to-day and no more"
Count Hoffman was then disclOs-
ed in the midst of his friends, look
ing red and ashamed of himself at
the detection of the trick he had in
tended, and he and Gabriel proceed
ed to strip off their outer clothes
and were brought face to face sword
in hand. ..t. r.|r........
They presented a close match in
size but there was no question as to
the physical superiority Of the
x,nnr,r LHranoh. nffioar xyhp1a nina
cles stood out prominently while
those of his enemy were obscured
by fat.
The swords clashed, both men
sprung back out of measure, then
Gabriel ran in, with an active feint
he had learned from his old mditre
de'drnes, and with one cut laid
open the counts right shoulder, dis
abling him in moment.
The duel was over almost ere it
had begun, and the faces of the cui-
rassierS looked 50 blank and rueful
that Gabriel said:
81 understand your regiment has
taken an oath to challenge me, oiii-
Ger by officer. If SO am ready to
fight two more of you this morn
ing, one at time" :"
The taUnt produced an immedi-
ate effect, and another officer tore
off his coat, picked up Count Hoff-
mans sword and faced the French
cuirassier boldly.
This time the duel began in a
fierce attack by the German, who
forced Gabriel to fall back several
PAGES by his ardor.
But no sooner did he begin 10 flag
in his fierce attack than the Alsa-
tian came in to close rally in which
the swords were almost invisible for
few minutes. 1t was ended by "a
groan from the German as "A broad
stream of blood spurted from his
cheek as he staggered back nearly
blinded by cross slash OF GabriePs
sword.
"Who comes next?" cried our
hero, in taunting tone. "You
may as well see what you have TO
expect, gentlemen"
"I'll fight him but IL must be
with the small sword )" cried third
officer.
Lenoir laughed proudly.
81 let the others OFF," he said.
Gas for you, the small sword will
do your business better than the
saber."
The rapiers were produced, long,
slender, toys in appearance; and
with these the third officer tried his
luck.
Gabriel, taking advantage OF his
great hight and reach, lunged at the
same moment with his antagonist,
who was a shorter man, and ran
him through the body at the mo-
ment the Germans sword tore
hole in his shirt, but missed his back
The effect of the third duel was
stunning on the Germans. They
looked as if they had found lion
in the path, and when the Alsatian
beckoned with his dripping sword
for a fourth, no one stirred.
Then Gabriel threw down his
weapon and said aloud:
When any other gentleman
wishes to find me | shall be at the
legation. ] have the honor to wish
you goOd-day."
He turned away amid dead ST.
lence and resumed his clothes, re-
entered his coach and was driven
back TO Berlin.
The cuirassiers were left with one
dead man on their hands and two
more badly hurt.