The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-06-11

Duh DOSS. duo oSlANS1o '"&Ap tAp>SS
burylng itself in the Italians shoulder.
at is nothing" says Giacomo, recov-
ering himself with difficulty.
Again the swords cross: but almost
Immediately the Italian feels himself
struck in the breast. This time it is the
sword of Jean-Louis which attacks; and
it has entered deeply. A livid pallor
suddenly ovcrspreads the face of Gia-
como; his sword slips from his grasp,
and he falls heavily to the ground.
They rush to his side. He is dead.
Jean-Louis has already sumo his
first position. He wipes his sword, and
holding the point downward. waits.
The first fencing master of the first
regiment has been carried off dead; but
nothing has been decided. Fourteen
more advcrsarics. fencing masters and
~provosts, are standing at the foot OF the
mound, impatient to measure themselves
with the victor, and eager also to avcngc
the death of that chief whom they had
believed invincib!e.
Jean-Louis has scarcely taken two min
utes rest. lie is again ready; a new adj
versary leaps to meet him; their swords
| cross. A sinister clash, a cry, Il gasp;
Jcan-Louis has delivered his thrust, and
recovcrs himself holding his sword point
downward. A second corpse is ling
before him. The third adversary pre-
sents himself. The judges of the com
bat are actually compelled to interfere IN
order to prevent him from rushing reck-
lcssly ut .Jcan-Louis. who with an eye
alame-now surcr of himself than before
and without thinking Of rest, IS equally
ready to meet him.
II am not at all tired" he simply re-
marked.
The signal is given. The Italian IS a
very tall man, like the fist fencing mas
ter whose corpse lies beyond, with a mill
tary cloak thrown over it. He has at
tentivcly watched the sword-play OF the
mulatto; he thinks that he has surprised
his secret. He multiplies leaps, felnts,
surprises. Finally, crouching almost to
the very ground, like a tiger preparing
to spring, he delivers Il terrible upward
thrust at the mulatto. But the blade OF
Jean Louis. after a lightning parry, burles
itself in the Italians breast.
The latter is borne away inscnslble.
Shall I follow the details of all these
cpical duclso No. Let it suffice for me to
remind the reader that what | am now
writing is authentic history-that l am
inventing nothing-that this encounter
is recorded in the official bulletin of the
army-and that have a.so obtained the
evidence of witnesses who heard the mar
ratiye from the lips of Jcan-Louls IN
person. So much said, | will conclude
the narrative in as few words as possible.
Ten new advcrSarics succeeded the first
three-all experienced prevots darmes OF
established reputation. All these ten fell
before Jcan-Louis. The thirteenth was
carried away senselcss, in the midst of a
clamor that sounded like a vast clamor OF
terror.
After this succession of victories with
out precedent in the history of the duel,
one might readily suppose the French
master was wearied out. In that I'M
heard-of contest. which, timed by the
watch. had lasted scarcely forty minutes,
Jean-Louis had delivered twcnty-sevcn
sword thrusts, of which three were in
staneously fatal. There were only two
of his adversaries left out of the fifteen
who had been at the outset so anxious to
measure themselves with him. Assur-
edly, those two men were not q whit less
brave than those who had gone before
them, but however strong human wills
NAV be, how could their courage fail to
be shaken by the successive shock OF so
many poignant emotions. Nevertheless
neither of them showed any signs of the
despair which must have invaded their
hearts. Pale, but resolute, they remained
erect, shuddering, but ready to advance
to their fate.
A sort of momentary truce had re-
| suited from that moment Of terror tor
one side, of proud enthusiasm for the
other. The colonel, an old soldier
bronzed by twenty-five years of cam
paigns, now deemed that the terrible but
necessary lesson had produced the effect
desired. 1t was now possible, without
the least blemish to military honor, to
check the reparation exacted at its ttlr-
tenth victim.
The colonel went up to Jean-Louis,
who, in his bronze immobility, seemed
like some antique statue of Fear.
"Master," he said, ''you have valiant
" sustained the honor of the regiment.
In the name of the whole Thirty-third, l
thank YOU. But thirteen successive
duels must have almost snapped your
muscles asundcr. Withdraw now.-if
vour fellow fencing, masters choose to
finish the contest with the two remain
ing adversaries, they can do So"
Jean-Louis' anger eXploded-as though
the coloncl's words contained the intima-
ton of a doubt--or as though he felt a
bitter pleasure in giving voice to the
overfulness of emotion which oppressed
him.
s.Nol" he shouted--''no! l will not
abandon the post assigned to me by the
confidence of the Thirty-second rcgi-
ment; 1 will stay right here; and will
fight just as long as | can hold a sword!'
In uttering these words, Jean-Louis
made an energetic gesture. In the over
exerted condition of his nerves. he had
not noticed that the circle of spectators,
encouraged by the ~colonel's Intervention,
was closing in about him. In gcsturing
his sword described a swift half circle,
slightly wounding one of his comrades in
the leg.
Jean-Louis observed the accident be-
fore the wounded man had even time to
utter a complaint; his fcverish ardor
instantly left him. He sprang to his
friend; and tears were seen in the eyes
of the man who, without regret or weak
ness, had just shed the blood of thirteen
adversarics. .
"Ahr he .cried-"only one man of
the Thirty-sccond has been wounded to-
dav, and that wound was given by me-"
The colonel took advantage of the in
cident to terminate the encounter.
"Jean-Louis," he said--''that is n
warning! Enough blood has been shed.
All have acted like brave men-will you
not take my word for it as q judge of
military honor"
"Why, c%olonelI"
"Wcil, | declare that honor has been
fully satisfied: and that only one thing
remains for the Thirty-second to do
namely, to shake hands Loyalty with the
first"
An enthusiastic cheer arose. Only the
two remaining provosts of the First rcgl-
ment remained motionless and silent.
The colonel, pointing to them, said to
Jean:
You know they cannot be the first to
come to YOU
Jean Louis felt himself conquered. He
threw down his sword, and advancing to
the two provosts, held out his hand to
them.
"Vive Jcan-Louis !-vive Thirty.sec-
ond :" shouted ten thousand voices.
give lie First reuiment.' cried jean
Louis-"we are all of one family. Five
~1'nrnppn