The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-08-06

open Dung-nOie.
Hold ON there" said the Colonel,
''that ere cigar is lit"
Certainly it is.'' gasped Foulon, his
lips quivering in spite Of himself.
"Well, said the Colonel with grin,
"you bent such a darned fool as 10 put
lighted cigar into keg of powder.
be you? When was you born?"
Sir" replied the lieutenant, vainly
endeavoring to hold the cigar motion
less in his shaking hand. Il have given
my word that if l lost the toss-up |
should put this lit cigar"
Hold on; you didn't say lit"
"Well, the cigar was smoking"
''Put it out them"
''Sir, you have run the risk that I
ran. have lost, and but do as you
would have done. Twill put this lighted
cigar into this bung-hole-"
Put in the chawed-up end. them"
You insult me again, sir!"
''Bless your heart! You fire up a
darned sight easier than this ere pow
der ever will. Do you think that l
would put the burning end of cigar
into the bung-hole of keg full of pow
der? Great Jerusalem?"
81 have told you again, and l repeat
it, that you are no gentleman. But /
/ am q man of honor. Bahi You shall
see me die as one. keep my prom
iSe."
Foulon slowly advanced the burning
cigar toward the opening in the keg
beneath.
go away here, you shall be kill"
shouted Vicaire to the Colonel; but the
latter remained quietly beside the VIC
tim. Vicaire covered his face with his
hands, and waited for the awful mo-
ment which was to blow his friend to
atoms. There was dead silence, and
then slight hiss was heard. Vicaire
looked up. Foulon, his face purple
with rage, was holding his cigar, after
repeatedly poking it into the bung-hole.
The Colonel was one broad grin.
as this powder?" asked Foulon.
Tooth POWDER" answered the Co
lionel; "cost almighty"
"But," said Foulon, shaking with
rage instead of fear, ''if you had lost
the toss-up our keg was full of gun
powder. What then?"
I'd haye put the cigar out before 1
put it in," said the Colonel.
"Ahn' murmured Foulon.
cor stuck in the chewed-up end. Hold
on to the terms you know"
Foulon calmly walked to his carriage.
He and Vicaire hoisted in their keg of
gunpowder and followed it themselves.
'Sirm shouted Foulon to the Colo;
mel, II said you were no gentleman.
say now you are Il coward"
The Colonel smiled.
For three days the friends walked
about Paris and saw both Foulon and
Vicaire several times. They were not
posted in the cafes, for the Frenchmen
feared the storm of ridicule which q
knowledge of the grotesque duel would
bring upon them. Neither were they
horsewhipped, for Vicaire argued that
they would probably retaliate, and in
such case the whipping would be on
ly Il modified form of the duel la clup
rempli.
On tine fourth day after this duel
the three friends happened to be on one
of the large and beautiful steamboats,
carrying excursions down the Seine.
Colonel Skerrett, like consistent Yam
k-e. was in the pilot house, watching
the working of the wheel. He came
down afterward and sauntered back to
where his two friends were standing.
Near them were no less individuals
than FoulOn and Vicaire. Neither par.
ty addressed tho other. The boat was
in the middle of the river. For long
| distance on either side the banks were
straight, and the tide was flowing di.
rectly down the middle channel. Sud
denly arose cry of fire. A wild STAN
pede of passengers in the bow of the
| boat was made toward the stern, and
| Foulon, who was standing near an
opening in the railing was thrown from
his balance. AS he was falling over
board the Colonel stretched out his
long arm, graspcd him by the collar
and pulled him in again. The French.
mans hat had fallen off. The Colonel
picked it up, and with a friendly smile
handed it to his late adversary. Fou.
Ion colored up and said eagerly:
Colonel Skerrott, beg your pardon
You are gentleman"
In the meantime the panic increased
All the bow of the boat was in a brigh
blaze, and the fire reached the pilot
house. The pilot rushed out with
| singed beard and eyebrows, and the
boat slowly drifted down the stream
The colonel caught hold of the pilo
and dragged him to Foulon.
Sir" said he, task this here fellow
which bank is the safest to land on
and tell me-"
HE says the right one," answered
Foulou. But the boat can not be
managed. The wheel must be on fire.
Without a word of reply the Colonel
plowed his way through the shriekins
crowd, leaped up the steps of the pilot
house and seized the wheel. There h'
stood, the flames roaring about him, th'
crowd shrieking beneath him, steadily
steering toward the right bank. Fou
Ion shuddered at the exhibition of sim
pie, Superhuman courage. The bani
was reached. The crowd, selfish anC
crazed with fear, rushed to land. Th
Major and the Captain struggled vi
the burning steps of the pilot-house
followed by Foulon and Vivaire. The.
| dragged the Colonel out through th'
flames, bore him to the bank, and ap
piled restoratives. He was less Injuries
than might have been supposed, and
length opened his eyes.
''Oh, Colonel Skerrett!' cried Fou
Ion, with tears in his eyes, ''your par
don, your pardon! You are a brav
man and a man of honor"
1.-The Colonel" said Captain Picker
ing, can swim like an otter. He coul
have crossed the creek a hundre
times without stopping"
Fists" said Major Marsh, ''are n
weapons. perhaps Well, pistols are
The Colonel can knock the center of
five-cent piece spun i'll the air at tift
yards.
Il will never fight duel again.
murmured FoulOn.
"And never call one man ze COW
ard for not fight of ze duel" sal
Vicaire.
''Is all the women safe?" asked tn
Colonel. -FredericE W. AC0ry, IN III
Inter ocean.
A,.k.,