The herald., 1893-10-15

slight hope that he could and would find
some way out of the difficulty.
Some miles from the city we turned
into private way which led to Il desert
ed chateau.
M. lie Baron, Captain Boscher and the
surgeon were already on the spot. With
the slightest recognition of one another
we descended to the basement, carrying
but one lantern to illumine the way
The room in which tho duel was to
take place was about 10 feet square.
without windows and with but one door.
1t was very high and the walls were
built of split stones. looked eagerly
about, but could see no chance for out
side aid to reach me. should have been
mortally nervous had not the lofty and
supercilious air of lie Baron aroused my
anger.
The final arrangements were quickly
made, and we each took corner, sword
in hand. The conditions were briefly
restated. that there might be no misun-
derstanding-we We're to remain each in
his corner until the door was shut, when,
after waiting one minute, the signal
would be given, and we should be at
liberty to slash each other as much as
we could, the fight to continue until one
or the other was unable to carry it fur
ther.
My corner was farthest from the en-
trance and opposite it.
After the seconds had left 1he room,
taking the light with them, Wilson on
some pretext or other returned and
handed me small flask. Then turning
me about so that my back was toward
the open door, through which the light
was streaming, he whispered
Drink this, but do not turn until go
out and shut the door, and after the duel
is ended, before the door is opened, close
your eyes tightly and keep them closed
until come to you and bandage them.
Say that they are hurt. Your life de-
pends upon following my directions"
Before | could reply or question. he
left me, and the door was shut The
liquor had swallowed seemed to course
through my veins like lightning. My
head felt strange and my eyeballs began
to prickle. turned and was surprised
to see what an immense volume of light
poured through the small keyhole. As l
looked it increased until the room was so
light that | could distinctly see every
part of it. l glanced at my antagonist
and beheld him SO plainly as almost to
be able to distinguish his features. He
was adjusting something inside his shirt
front. l was about to call attention to
the breach of the condition that the
room should be in total darkness when
the signal was given to make ready.
LIE Baron grasped his sword and leaned
forward as if he were endeavoring in
the dim light to make out something in
front of him. At the second signal he
stepped heavily forward. but surprised
me by quickly springing to one side and
then moving stealthily toward the GEN.
ter of the room. could not understand
his tactics and did not move. He swung
his sword fercely with downward
sweep, then to the right and left and all
around him, acting like blind man
sticking at an invisible enemy.
Again he moved in my direction, go
ing through the same performance, and
this he repeated several times until he
came SO near me that for safety moved
to one side.
"Where are your" he grumbled, swing
ing his blade around,
Here" replied, and as he moved in
my direction, brandishing the sword,
stepped aside again, but he kept on in
the direction of my voice. For q mo-
ment he stood still, swaying the weapon
like one who depends solely upon his
sense of touch. was SO near him and
the opportunity was so tempting gave
lunge at h.rn. He made no attempt to
! ward off the attack, and my sword
touched him. Then he turned quickly,
slashing tie air in circle, but making
no motion t5yard me.
1t dawned upon me then that he could
not see as could, and was not long in
taking advantage of this could easily
keep out of his reach while, he was COM
pletely at my mercy. compromised
with myself on the advantage appar-
entity had over him and did not attempt
to kill him, but l most cruelty disfigured
his face, cutting it until feared he
might die from loss of blood.
It could not have been half an hour
when l saw that he was growing weak,
and l ended the farce by knocking him
senseless to the floor. Then, closing my
eyes and holding my hands over them, |
called for help. Wilson, the captain and
the surgeon came running in.
My friend hastened to me, saying:
"Your eyes are hurt! Here, let me put
this handkerchief over them while mon
sieur the surgeon attends to LIE Baron"
He deity placed a thick bandage over
my eyes, and refusing the proffered aid
of the physician he led me up stairs and
to the carriage which was to convey me
back to the city andmy hotel. LIE Baron,
/ afterward learned, was badly "cut up"
both physically and mentally, but none
of his wounds was dangerous.
On the way home, when asked for an
explanation, Wilson said
"Well, you know l have made chem
istry an absorbing study. Once, while
compounding digitalis with some chem
icals, tried it's effect upon dog and
discovered that he could see in the dark
est room, running with perfect ease
while had to grope my way along. On
bringing him to the light too suddenly
afterwsrd, sacrificed his eyesight to
my curiosity, for he was thenccforth al
most totally blind. Only after several
trials did l sufficiently understand the
workings Of this compound not to injure