Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-06-01
A Fair Fight-Thc Way They
Do in Texas.
The outfit of twelve wagons had

L
were in good English. He rode up
to q campfire around which five OF
Blk OF us were sitting, and after a
"Good evening" to all dismounted
and let his gaze wander about.
Teamster No. 5 was Mexican
half-breed known as Big Pete. He
gave start of surprise as the
stranger rode up, and I heard him
cursing and muttering to himself.
By and by the boy fixed his gaze
on Pete and kept it there for a long
half minute. There was a sort of
smile on his face which made one
think of the look of a wolf who
had pursued victim for hours
and hours and was finally near
enough to seize it.
"Rife, pistol, or knife?" he ask
ed of Pete in a low, even voice.
The big fellow looked around
uneasily. He was no coward, as
we all knew, but the sudden ap-
pearance of the boy had ratified
him for a moment. A 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 favorite wea-
pom. Besides he was a giant COM
pared to that slender but active
looking youth.
SThis knife, and I will give you
every well. Just as you pleasei"
quietly replied the young man as
he unbridled his horse and sent
him away.
Not word was spoken by any
of the rest of us. We all rose up,
but made no other move. Not a
question was asked of either mau.
1t was the law of the plains. One
man had the right to demand sat
isfaction of another by rifle, re-
volver, or knife. AS to the cause
of the quarrel, why should we ask
or care? Pete removed his belt
and jacket and sombrero, and tied
a handkerchief around his head
The stranger removed the belt in
which he carried q couple of re-
volvers, threw aside his sombrero,
and walked off to distance of
fifty feet. Pete followed. Every
man in camp formed a circle about
the pair. The moon made every
thing as plain as daylight. The
horses and mules were all to the
right of us. So far as all could
see, every one stopped feeding ane
gazed steadfastly at the circle.
"Ready!"
1t was the stranger who callec
out, and at the word both moved
into the centre of the ring ane
menaced each other. A fight t
the death with knives is horrible
thing to look at, and yet there is
magnetism about it which force,
YOU to stand and look till the enc
comes. Boxers move about-feint
advance, retreat, rush at eacl
; other, and grapple. So it is witt
men who fight with knives. Back
and forth across the circle, roune
and round it, their knives now anc
then clashing together, and it wal
ten long minutes before blood wal
drawn. With the first drop came
death.
No man called out. No man il
the circle moved out of his tracks
Some of the horses came neare:
and whinnied softly, as if asking
what 1T was all about, but this W.
remembered afterward. Big Pete
was working to make his grea'
strength bring him an advantage
If he could seize that boys righ
arm with his left hand and hold il
for five seconds the duel would be
ended. Thrice he attempted il
and thrice be failed. Suddenly
the boy found the opening he hac
been seeking. So swiftly that none
of us could follow him he sprans
forward under the uplifted righ'
arm, there was the flash of a knife
and Big Pete uttered groan anc
sank down.
"You are witnesses that it was
fair fight" said the stranger as ht
stood over Pete and looked arount
the circle.
1t was fair, but no man answer
ed. He called his horse by lov
whistle, slipped on the bride, ane
half minute later was canterins
away to the east. Big Pete hat
wronged him. The law of the lant
plains had avenged him. A grav'
beside the Pecos-a guess or twt
as to The strangers identity-tha
was all,