The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1889-06-15
BLKW THE CHUNK.

The most amusing duel known to
Arkansas tradition occurred shortly
after Jefferson completed the Lou
isiana purchase. There lived in
the territory pompous, overbear-
ing Frenchman, Count Frederick
Notrebe. He was greatly enraged
at the purchase, and, although he
owned many thousands of the best
acres of land in the territory, yet
he swore that he would abandon
them rather than live under what
he called a government of Internal
patchwork.
One day, at Arkansas Post, the
count, as some additional evidences
of the depravity of the American
government had just been made
known to him, began to curse the
country. Among the bystanders
was a man named Alex Walker.
This man, brave and amusing
gentleman, stepped forward and,
addressing the Frenchman, said:
Excuse me, but who are you?
Hold on, now; don't swell up like
toad"
II am Count Frederick Notrebe."
"Well, I am Alexander Walker.
I am deputy U. 8. Marshal"
"But what right have you to in
terrupt me?"
"The right of an American citi-
zen. And I just want to tell you that
you shall not curse this country"
The count raved. Walker con-
tinued:
II mean what I say. You may
be pretty good sort of fellow,
but I want you to understand that
when I'm in the neighborhood peo-
pie who are opposed to this glori-
Gus American eagle must take a
back seat"
The count, struggling desperately
with himself, said: my friend will
call on YOU"
"All right, Frederick"
"Don't you dare be SO familiar. :"
"All right, old buck, l won't" !"
"You infernal-but this no time
for imprecation. My friend will see
you."
The count walked away, and soon
afterward a gentlemanly fellow pre-
sented Walker with a formal chal-
lenge.
"Say, young fellow" Walker re-
marked, when he had read the chal-
lenge, II am not acquainted in this
neighborhood, and consequently
have no friend to take an accept
ance of this thing, but just tell the
old Buck I'll meet him down on
the sandbar at SUNRISE"
| Walker had an old horse-pistol,
the flint lock of which was tied on
with leather string. AS he was
looking at the weapon, he accident
ally let it fall on the floor, and
when he took it up he found that
| the hammer was broken off; how
ever, he carefully loaded it and
went to bed. The next morning
before daylight he was on the sand
bar awaiting the arrival of the count.
Just as the sun was rising the count,
accompanied by his friend and
several negroes, came in a boat.
Walker, noticing that the negroes
had brought spades with them, said :
"Why, look here, Monsieur lie
Compte Notrebe, why did you bring
the agricultural implements?"
II will show you. | don't mind
being shot and killed, but l don't
want to be shot in the legs. My
men will throw up earth mounds
about as high as my knees. By the
way, why have you made a fire
such a warm morning as this?"
ITO get chunk of fire when the
time comes"
"What in the world do you want
with chunk of fire?"
| "Well," drawing his horse-pistol
"as my artillery is out of shape, III
have to touch her off,"
II have two excellent pistols
take one of them"
"No, I could never have any fun
with a strange pistol. Say, old
buck"
1 Don't call me old buck agein. .
"All right; but say, as | haven't
got second, suppose we throw up
wet or dry for the first shot?"
"All right"
I The count won the first shot
Walker, without sign of emo
ton, took his position.
The count fired and missed
"That's number one," said Walker
"All we've got to do is to keep or
and one of US will have some fur
before we quit. Now, get behinc
your ramparts," Walker added, al
he took up his chunk of fire."
"For Gods sake, don't use thai
awful-looking thing" exclaimed the
count, as he took his position. lie
me lend you one of my pistols?"
"Didn't I tell you that ! never
could have any fun with q strangt
. pistol? Just hold still, and (takint
his pistol in his left hand and hold