Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1893-06-01
THE LAW OF THE PLAINS.
RIFLE, PISTOL, OR KNIFE.
THESE THREE, NO MORE.
A Fair Fight-The Way They
Do in Texas.


New York Sun.
The outfit of twelve wagons had
stopped alta point on the Rio Pecos
river about seven miles above the
town of Anton Chico. We had
supper and were smoking our pipes
and it was between sunset and dark
when a young fellow about &c
years old came riding up from the
direction of the Comanche coun-
try. He was dressed like a cow
boy, and what few words he spoke
were in good English. He rode up
to a campfire around which five or
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 a start of surprise as the
stranger rode up, and 1 heard him
cursing and muttering to himself.
By and by the boy fixed his gaze
on Pete and kept it there for 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 a 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 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.
"This knife, and I will give you
every we'll. Just as you p1easel",
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.
It 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 a 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 and
gazed steadfastly at the circle.
"Ready!"
1t was the stranger who called
out, and at the word both moved
into the centre of the ring and
menaced each other. A fight to
the death with knives is a horrible
thing to look at, and yet there is a
magnetism about it which forces
YOU to stand and look till the end
comes. Boxers move about-feint,
advance, retreat, rush at each
other, and grapple. So it is with
men who fight with knives. Back
and forth across the circle, round
and round it, their knives now and
then clashing together, and it was
ten long minutes before blood was
drawn. With tho 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 whinnied softly, as if asking
what1t was all about, but this we
remembered afterward. Big Pete
was working to make his great
strength bring him an advantage.
If he could seize that boys right
arm with his left hand and hold it
for five seconds the duel would be
ended. Thrice he attempted it
and thrice he failed. Suddenly
the boy found the opening he had
been seeking. So swiftly that none
of us could follow him he sprang
forward under the uplifted right
arm, there was the flash of a knife,
and Big Pete uttered groan and
sank down.
"You are witnesses that it was