The Progress., 1893-07-15
THE LAW or The PLAINS.
Thrilling Account OF Duel with Knives
Fought by Moonlight.

Fought by Moonlight.
The outfit OF twelve wagons had
stopped at point on the Rio Pecos
river about seven miles above the
Gown of Anton Chico We had suppcr
and were smoking our pipes, and il
was between sunset and dark when a
young fellow about 20 years old came
riding up from the direction of tho
'tomanchc country. He was dressed
like Il cowboy, and what few words
he spoke were in good English. He
rode up To camp fire around which
five or six of us were sitting, and
after Good evening to all dis
mounted and let his gaze wander from
man TO man.
Tcamster No was a Mexican half
breed known a. Big Pete. lie gave
start Of surprise as the stranger
rode up, and heard him cursing and
muttcring to himself. BY and by tho
boy iiXoI his ga g on Pete and kept
1t there for long half minute. There
was a sort of smile on his face which
made one think of the look of wolf
who had pursued his victim for hours
and hours and was finally near enough
to seize il.
"Rihc, pistol or knifo?" he qucricd
Of Petc in low, even voice.
The big fellow looked around un-
easily. He was no coward, as we all
knew, but the sudden appearance of
the boy ha0 ratified him for mo-
ment. \ full moon was coming up,
and there would be light enough for
firearms. He was a good shot, but
that long, sharp knife was his favor
ltesTeapon. Besides, he was giant
compared to that slender but active
looking youth.
The knife. and | will give you one
minute to say your prayorsm shouted
Pete as he sprang up.
Very well; just as you please"
quietly replied the young man as he
unbridled his horse and sent him
away.
Not a word was spoken by any Of
the rest OF us. We all rose up. but
made no other move. Not question
was asked of either man. 1t was the
law of the plains. One man had the
light to demand satisfaction Of an
other by rifle. revolver. or knife As
To the cause of the quarrel, why
should we ask or care? Pete re-
moved his belt and jacket and SOM
brero and tied a handkerchief around
his head. The stranger removed the
belt in which he carried couple of
revOlvers. threw aside his sOmbrero,
and walked of distance of fifty feet
Pete followed. Every man in camp
formed circle about the pair. The
moon made everything as plain as
daylight. The horses and mules
were all TO the right of us. So far as
all could see everyone stopped feed
ing and gazed steadfastly at the cir
Gle
Ready
1t was the stranger who called out,
and at the word both moved into tn 10
center of the ring and menaced each
other A fight TO the death with
knives is horrible thing TO look at
and yet there Is a magnetism about
1t which forces you to stand and
look till the end comes. Boxers
move eabOut--feint-ad -advance-retreat
rush at each other and grapple.
SO it is with men who fight with
knives. Back and forth across the
and round it-their
knives now and then clashing to-
gether, and it was ten long minutes
before blood was drawn. With the
first drop came death.
No man called out. No man in the
circle moved Out of his tracks. Some
Of the horses came nearer and whin-
MED softly, as if asking what it was
all about, but this we remembered
Big Pete was working to
make his great strength bring him
an advantage. II he could seize that
boys right arm with his left hand
and hold it for five seconds the duel
would De ended. Thrice he attempted
it and thrice he failed. Suddenly the
boy found the opening he had been
SO swiftly that none of US
could follow him he sprang forward
AHNNA ehO hpliibcu ilSuJ arm, Incfe
was the flash of a knife, and Big Pete
uttered groan and sank down.
"1ou are witness that il was a fair
ight," said the stranger as he bent
over Pete and looked around the
,ircle.
1t was fair, but no man answered.
lie called his horse by low whistle.
slipped on the bride, and half
minute later was cantering away TO
he east.
Big Pete had wronged him. The law
# the land would not give him salts
action. The law of the plains had
him. A grave beside the
'ecos-a guess or two as to the
tranger's identity--and that was
IL.
French workmen In New York.
They make not only artificial Q
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