The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-09-28

As I anticipated, the affair finally cul-
minated. Hot words passed between the
two, and then Jack declared the engineer
was coward. l was standing where |
could look Stone square in the face as
these words were uttered, and | saw him
turn very white through the coat of tan on
his countenance while his jaws hardened
and his dark eyes glittered
you are a liarl" he retorted icily "And
to prove it I'll fight you and put a bullet
through you'll"
Not much you won'tr' cried the scout.
~ don't know much about duels, but do
know I'm the one challenged, an reckon
that gives me the right of choosin weapons.
We won't fight with guns, but Wen use
the rope"
THE roper"
yep. You git on your boss, an I'll git
on mine. Well both have a lasso an be
stationed 30 rods apart. At a signal we'll
ride at each other, both with the idea Of
ropin tother critter from his horse. The
lucky man has the right to tow t'other ga
loot as fur ms he dern peases"
That meant the man who was lassoed
would be dragged over the plain until he
was dead, mass of broken bones and
bleeding flesh at the end of the lariat.
then he slowly said:
~ never threw a rope in my life"
THAT hain't nothin to me-" declared
Jack. Fight or take water"
"Under the circumstances" spoke the
| engineer, 81 presume you will give me a
| week in which to practice with lasso, so
may have some show in the game"
This did not suit the Roper at all, but
every one in the party declared it was nc
more than fair, and knowing no man could
perfect himself in the use of the lasso in
such brief time Jack finally agreed.
Stone procured a lariat, and from that
time on he was practicing with it every
spare moment he could obtain. But he
| had little time for practice, and he did not
make rapid progress, for all of which he
was perfectly cool and determined to meet
the Roper on the day set for the strange duel.
| The day before the duel was to come off,
we received orders to make camp early in
the afternoon. While the laborers were
looking after this matter Roper Jack
| threw himself down on the grass and calm
| ly went to sleep 1t was thus we found
him, lying fat on his back, with big rat.
| tlesnake coiled on his broad breast. Our
cries of alarm awoke him, and he saw the
snake. His eyes filled with horror, but he
| udTeu HOJ SUIT, lOr uHe SeTptnJ sttIlto an
cry, and the scout knew it would strike al
| the first motion.
Dave Stone carried his lasso at his waist
| In moment he had released it, and theI
the moose circled round his head Befor,
we realized what he contemplated doing
he made the cast. Through the air shot tn,
moose, dropping fairly over the upliftet
head of the RATHER, and the next instant tn,
snake was jerked squirming through tn,
air. In a remarkably brief space of tim,
the serpent's head was crushed beneath
Stones boot heel, and the engineer wa
calmly coiling his lasso. Every witness
stood astounded.
Roper Jack had leaped to his feet, ant
he looked at Stone with an expression o
amazement and admiration growing on hi
weatherbeaten face. At length he CAM
slowly forward.
II sw'ar, that was slick throw!'' he said
II reckon you saved my life, pard, an RICH
hyar l ask your pardon for calm We COW
ard. You hain't none whatever. A maj
as can handle a rope like that can't be
cowardl If you insist on fghtin, We'll hav
it out, jest as we greed, but low hahn
anxious to fight a man as has saved m
from rattler's jaws"
This was fair apology, and Stone &C
cepted it.
We'll call it square, then" declared tn
young engineer.
Lets shake" invited the scout, extend
ing his hand.
They shook.