The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1884-06-28

that silence, suddenly bursts forth these
two words, heard by ten thousand specta-
J tors "Engardel" !"
The two fencing masters cross swords.
From the first instant Giacomo Eerrarl
seeks to make a deadly thrust at jean
Louis, but in vain-his sword perpetually
encounters the immovable blade of his adj
versary. He retires a step and resigns
himself to more patient maneuvres. lie
caresses, he leases the sword. Calm and
watchful, Jean-Louis lends himself to all
his adyersary's fourishes. Suddenly the
Italian utters one Of those roars peculiar
to swordsmen of his race, and makes
a sudden leap to one side, followed by a
lightning upward thrust 1t is an old
Florentine trick that has often done him
good service. But almost at the same in
slant cry of anger, rather than Of pain,
escapes the lips of Giacomo Ferrari; with
unparalleled rapidity Jean-Louis has par
ried the thrust, and his own blade, after
tapping about his adversary's to present
another lunge, suddenly abandons its ap-
parent purpose, and delivers swift riposte,
burying itself in the Italians shoulder.
i at is nothing" says Giacomo, recover
ing himself with difficulty. -o
Again the swords cross; but almost i'm
mediately the italian feels himself struck
in the breast This time it is the sword of
Jean-L Louis which attacks, and it has en-
tered ;.ftst dee6 A lvid pallor suddenly over
spread the face of Giacomo; his saE'9slraa slips
from his grasp, and he falls suddenly to the
ground.
They rush to his side. He is dead.
Jean-Louis has already resumed his first
position. He wipes his sword, and holding
the point downward, waits. r-
The first fencing master of the first regi-
ment has been carried off dead; but nothing
has been decided. Fourteen more adver
saries, fencing masters and provosts, are
standing at the foot of the mound, impa-
tient to measure themselves with the VIC
tor, and eager also to avenge the death OF
that chief whom they had believed invin-
cible
| Jean-Louis has scarcely taken two min
utes' rest. He is again ready; new ad-
versary leaps to meet him; their swords
cross. A sinister clash, a cry, a gasp; jean
Louis has delivered his thrust, and RECEIVERS
himself holding his sword point downward.
A second corpse is lying before him. The
third adversary presents himself. The
judges of the combat are actually compelled
to interfere in order to prevent him from
rushing recklessly at Jean-Louis, who with
an eye afame-now surer of himself than
beforehand 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
very tall man, like the first fencing master
whose corpse lies beyond, with a military
cloak thrown over it. He has attentively
watched the sword play of the mulatto; he
thinksh has surprised his secret, Hemulti-
plies leaps, ,feints, surprises. Finally, crouch
ing almost to the ground, like a tiger pre-
pairing to spring, he delivers a terrible up
ward thrust at the mulatto But the blade
of Jean-Louis, after lightning parry, bur-
les itself in the Italians breast
The latter is borne away insensible.
Shall l follow the details of all these ep-
! ical duels? No. Let is suffice for me to
remind the reader that what I 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 also obtained the evil
dence of witnesses who heard the narrative
from the lips Of Jeap-Lou in person. So
much said, will conclude the narrative
in as few words as possible.
Ten new adversaries succeeded the first
three-all experienced prevosts d'armes of
established reputation. All these ten fell
before Jean-Louis. The thirteenth was
carried away senseless, in the midst of
clamor that sounded like Vast clamor of
terror
After this succession of victories without
precedent in the history of the duel, one
might readily suppose the French master
was wearied out. In that unheard-of con-
test, which, timed by the watch, had lasted
scarcely forty minutes, Jean-Louis had
delivered tWenty-seven sword thrusts, of
which three were instantaneously 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. Assuredly, those two men were
not whit less brave than those who had
gone before them, but however strong hu-
man wills may be, how could their courage
fail to be shaken by the successive shock
of so many poignant emotions Neverthe-
less neither of them showed any signs of
the despair which must have invaded their
hearts Pale, but resolute, they remained
erect, shuddering, but ready ia advance to
their fate. =
a sort of momentary truce had resulted
from that moment of terror for one side,
of proud enthusiasm for the other. The
colonel, an old soldier bronzed by twenty
five years Of campaigns, now deemed that
the terrible but necessary lesson had pro-
duced the effect desired. 1t was now pos
sible, without least blemish to military
honor, to check the repaFation exacted at
its thirteenth 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 valiantly
sustained the honor Of the regiment. In
the name of the whole Thirty-second, I
thank you'll But thirteen successive duels
must have almost snapped your muscles
asunder. Withdraw now If your fellow
fencing masters choose to finish the contest
with the two remaining adversaries, they
can do SC"
Jean-Lou anger exploded as though
the colonel's words contained the intimation
of a doubt-or as though he felt bitter
pleasure In giving voice to the overfulness
of emotion which oppressed him.
"No! he shouted-"no I will not
abandon the post assigned to me by the
confidence of the Thirty-second regiment;
will stay right here; and | will fight just
as long as can hold sword p
! Inutteripg these words, jean Louis made
an energetic gesture. In the over exerted
condition of his nerves. he had not noticed