The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1885-07-09
A NAN OF HONOR.

Colonel Skerrett, Major Marsh, and
Captain Pickering were sitting in their
room at the Hotel Anglais, Paris. They
were Americans on their travels, all
three rough-looking down-e9sters, who
had gone through the worst fire of the
civil war. DR.. Vicaire, surgeon in the
French army, was standing in front OF
| them, regarding them with severe
air.
Il come to denounce to you as you
/ have Insult my friend, NJ le Lieutenant
Foulon. He demand ze satisfaction, "
said Dir. Vieaire, particularly address
ing Colonel Skerrett. You have kick
his dog. You write apology, Yer goot.
You write no apology, you choose ze-
ze-ah! vat YOU call I arme-ze."
"Weepons, said Major Marsh, CON-
ing to his assistance. DR.. Vicaire
bowed.
Apologize for kicking his darned
curt shouted the Colonel. What die,
it come swapping and barking at my
heels for? | would kick Mr. Foolong
himself if he did that"
''Ahm replied the doctor, ever goot!
Insult additional;" and he blew his
Colonel Skerrett was as brave man as
ever stood in boots, but besides his con-
scientious objections to a duel the
cause of quarrel was so ludicrous that
he only answered with a burst of
laughter.
''Ah!' said the Doctor, calmly, but
reddening. Insult tree And he
took a prodigious pinch of snuff.
The three friends looked at each
other. Major Marsh took the word.
"My friend viii allow me to act for
him. We have the choice of weapons?"
Yes"
Then l choose them that nature
provided. Fists?"
''Feest" said the doctor, pondering
''You mean 1910
Major Marsh explained in panto-
mime.
'Sir'' cried the fiery doctor, "you
make ze game of me! | see you after
my friend have re satisfaction.
Don't get so hot, now. What do YOU
say to stuffed clubs in a darkened
room?"
1t took Il long time to make the doc
tor understand this proposition, but
when he did lie rejected it with con-
stane-y increasing wrath. Captain
Pickering suggested rough-and-
tumble in a pit-Eick, scratch, bite,
| claw, and gouge. Major Marsh thought
an excellent way OF settling the diff
Guilty would be Tor the two adyersaries
to 90 into shallow water and see which
could draw the other. Finally, Colo
mel Skerrett suggested that they should
bring keg of powder on the field; cast
lots; and whichever lost should sit up
on the keg and apply the cigar he had
just been smoking to q hole in the keg.
Dr. Nicaire tore his hair and rejected
! one and all.
Why" said the Major, ''it pears
to me that we haven't got the choice
of weepons at all. "
''Of ze weapon, yes! But this is no
weapon. Swords, dagger, peestol,
gun-zcy AL weapon. But re gouge,
ze ieest, re ciup rempli, or vat you call
ze stuff clups-eh, monsieurm and the
worthy Doctor stamped with rage.
Doctor" said the Major quietly,
''the last suggestion Of Colonel SkeL-
rett is one that has been acted on, in
at least one case in one of the Southern
States of America. III your friend
wants an out and ont dooel, he will ac-
cept the offer of barrel of powder I'M
der them conditions. If he don't he is
only foolin' with the matter. People
blaze away at each other here for half
an hour and shoot nothing but the
pigs. When we du a thing in the
States we du it.
"Sir!" shrieked Vicaire with concen-
trated rage. You coward, you pol
troon, secirat! post you in re cafe, re
hotel. | and my friend whip you with
ze-eh!-ze whip of re horse!' an he
| rushed from the room, swinging his hat
frantically in one hand and plucking
at his hair with the other.
Left to themselves, the three friends
laughed heartily. As for the doctor S
threat of personal chastisement, Major
Marsh alone looked strong enough to
Il orsewhip the National Guard if it
were called out For the posting in the
cafes they cared exactly nothing. They
chatted and smoked and were begin
ming to forget the whole affair.
But al hour later the writer an
nounced IN. Lieutenant FoulOnm
NJ Foulan advanced into the room,
bowed courteousiy to the two, and AL
dressing Colonel Sherrett, said in per-
feet English:
Il have just seen my friend Vicaire.
Possibly he misunderstood. From
what he told me. | understand that
YOU made propositions which no gentle
man would make Therefore you are
no gentleman. 1t remains to be seen
if YOU are a coward as well. l am
aware that your last proposition is a
mode Of the duello practiced in some
parts of your country. OF that my
friend Vicaire was ignorant. Although
the practice is Irregular, | waive that
consideration. and personally accept
vour proposal of keg ofpowder under
the specified conditions. You will
oblige me by naming the time and
place.
Say tomorrow at o'clock in the
afternoon. | reckon the little wood of
Plessis, on the road to Versailles, is a
quiet enough place. | will supply the
keg of powder for your use and you
will supply the one for mine. y
Very well, sir said Foulon, bow
inc. Il shall be there The terms to
be rigidly adhered to? To apply the
cigar which one had just been smoking
to the open hole in the keep"
..Frecisely," answered the Colonel.
Il presume" said the Lieutenant,
with q sinister smile, that in any
event the service of a doctor or sur
geon will be unneces2ar
Il am sure of that" sad the Colonel,
with a grin.
Foulon left the room, and when ne
had gone Colonel Skerrett said: - II
fight this here devil, but | amt gwine
to be blowed 10 atoms, nor | ain t
gwine TO let that there fool blow HIM
self to atoms" The three friends took
measures accordingly.
The next day, at the appointed time,
the five men, all smoking vigorously,
were on the ground. Each party had
brought its powder-keg along. The
Major and DR.. Vicaire tossed up. The
Major won.
/.