The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1885-09-10

| GV9ub LuG .OL " uoStNh VA 'uh
| geon will be unnecessary. ....
az am sure ofthat," said tho Colonel,
with y grin. e..
Foulon left the room, and when he
had gone Colonel Skerrett said. 'I'll
| fight this here devil, but amt gwine
| to be blowed to atoms, nor I amt
gwine to let that there fool blow him
self to atoms.''s Tho three friends took
measures accordingly. s., ...-. ..- .
The next day, at the appointed time,
| the five mon, all smoking vigorously,
were on the ground. Each party had
brought its powder-kcg along. The
Major and DR.. Vicaire tossed up. The
| Foulon turned ghastly pale. but
walked firmly to the keg which the
Americans had brought and sat down
on it. It was an ordinary cider keg,
| and Major Marsh Knocked out tho
'bung. All then retired to safe dis
tance except the$Golonel, who remained
standing by Foulon's side. The latter,
down whose livid face tho sweat was
rolling, took his cigar from his mouth
and advanced it, still glowing, to tho
open bung hole. >,....... ..........
Hold on there" said the Colonel,
"that ere cigar is lit" .:
Certainly it is" gasped Foulon, his
lips quivering in spite of himself. ...-
"Woll," said the Colonel with a grin,
''you bent such darnod fool as to put
alighted cigar into n keg of powder,
be youP When was you bornP''
Sir" replied the lieutenant, vainly
endeavoring to hold the cigar motion
less in his shaking hand. 81 have given
my word that If 1 lost the toss-up I
should put this lit cigar"
Hold on;> you didn't say lit"
'<>t.Wcll, tho cigar was smoking"
"Put it out, then"
"Sir, you have run the risk that
ran. have lost, and l but do as YOU
would nave done. l will put this lighted
cigar into this bung-hole-" '....
"Put in the chawed-up end, thon."
"You insult me again, STRIP
"Bless your heart! You fire up O
darned sight easier than this ere pow
der ever will. Do%you think that
would put the burning end of cigar
into the bung-holc of keg full of pow
derP Great JerusalcmP'
IL have toldyou again; and I repeat
1t, that you are no gentleman. But L
am a man of honor. Bah! You shall
see me die as one: 1 keep my prom
ise"
Foulon slowly advanced the burning
cigar toward the opening in tho keg
beneath. -
go away here, you shall bo kill!'
shouted Vicaire to the Colorel; but the
lattor remained quietly beside :he VIC
| Tim. Vicaire covered his face wit his
hands, and waited for tho awful mo-
ment which was to blow his friend to
Ino
then q slight hiss was heard. Vicaire
looked up. Foulon,S his face purple
with rage, was holding his cigar, after
repeatedly poking it into the bung-hole.
The Colonclawas one broad grin.
'ls this powdorp" asked Foulon.
'Iooth 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 thenp"
I'D haYc put the cigar out before l
| put it in," said the Colonel.
"Ah!" murmured Foulon.
cor stuck in the chewed-up end. Hold
on to the terms you know"
Foulon calmly walked to his carriage.
Hc and Vicaire hoisted in their keg of
| gunpowder and followed it themselves.
"Sir!" shouted Foulon to tho Colo
mel, II said you were no gentleman. I
say now you are a coward"
Tho 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 Frenchmcn
feared the storm, of ridicule which a
knowledge of the grotesque duel would
bring upon them. Mother were they
horsowhipped, for Vicaire argued that
they would probably rctaliato, and in
such case the whipping would be on
ly modified form of tho duel a la clup
rempli.
On the fourth day after this .'duel"
the three friends happened to be on one
of the largo and beautiful steamboats,
carrying excursions down tho Seine.
Colonel Skerrett, like n consistent Yam
kee, was in the pilot house, watching
the working of the wheel. He camo
| down afterward and saunterod back to
where his two friends were standing.
Near them were no less Individuals
than Foulon and Vicaire. Neither par
ty addressed the other. Tho boat was
in the middle of the river. For long
distance on either sido tho banks Wero
StralSnC, ana the tluo was flowing di-
rectly down the middle channel. Sud-
denly arose q cry of 1iro. A wild stam-
pedo OF passengers in tho bow of the
boat was mado-toward the stern, and
Foulon, who was standing near an
opening in tho railing was thrown from
his balance. AS he was falling over
board tho Colonel stretched out his
long arm. .grasped him by the collar
and pulled him in again. Tho French
mans hat had fallen of. The Colonel
picked it up, and with a friendly smile
handed it to his late adversary. Fou-
lon colored up and said eagerly:
Colonel Skorrctt, beg your pardon
You arc gentleman" .
In the meantime the panic increased.
All the bow of tho boat was in bright
blaze, and the fire reached the pilot
house. The pilot rushed out with
singed beard and eyebrows, and the
boat slowly drittcd down tho stream.
The colonel caught hold of the pilot
and dragged him to Foulon.
i Sir said he, "ask this here fellow
I which bank 10 tho aufnct tn land on