Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-03-11

was no conmotion: the drama OF death
went on without a sound save what was
made by the whi-tling. olashing swords OF
the contestants, for, the Arabs being IN.
domonstrative, take the sight OF blood and
the issues Of life and death without excite
ment or horror OF pity.
have no recollection Of the particulars
Of tho fight only know that for my part
! went az II with a single, simple purpose;
that had no thought Of fnncy swordsmAu-
ship, nor indeed OF anything else save not
TO yield while could draw breath.
Ny opponent had ths lrrt blood. BY
some accident or olumsiness on my part
his sword in CHANGING OF mine struck my
shouider. pecling It. But the wound,
though It bled freely, was flea bite, and II
II had any eject at all II was to spur me
on. pressed bard, forcing my antagonist
back inch by inch to larboard, the crowd
giving way In that direction.
He fought like a beast Of prey, but in
spite OF his fury, or perhaps because Of 1t,
kept pushing him steadily before me till
At last his heel was against the vessels aide.
Finding himself et the wall, be uttered a
great oath, the first word be- had spoken
Since we engaged. and piled his weapon
with such swiftness and force that It was
n tlNfhNl 4 EffaAlHN nNAlk hANAn On tue AIHlLs
No doubt IL was my reckless calm that
saved me. At any rate, by driving in and
slnshing and guarding and thrusting MS
n ] had the eyes Of Argus md the hands Of
Erihreus l washable 10 maintain my ground;
nay, was able TO keep bis back glued to the
bhig's side.
Blood flowed pretty freely on both sides
yet the sight OF il did not relax my resolu-
ton, II resolution IL can be called, which
was blind decision to have my sword in
my opponents yitalA or his Ia mine. One
Of as two must die. That was the fell yer.
diet. SO we fought not 70 show our science,
but as men fight who are bent ON killing
each other In the shortest possible space OF
time. Ihad but 10 look into bis eyes TO see
the fate intended for me, and / dHresay be
looked into mine and rend with equal clear
ness that meant for him.
There was no device known 20 either OF
us-and Abram ben Alden must have cursed
himself for my deStority--to which we did
not resort, Yet the advantage hung In the
balance Terrific as the blades rang and
glanced, they somehow failed TO find their
point on ci:hcr side
The breathing WIS becoming hard and
inst, aud therg was some risk we might be
deprived oi the satisfaction for which both
81 us painted 10y our very caecrness and yio-
leuce IA trying 70 ggt It, That some such
Thought must nave hnshed across Abram
ben Aden's mind was quickly made mani.
lost by bis mancuvcring' Blowing and
stasgerlng as u IN the Inst stage Of eXbaus.
tlon, he suddenly swerved' apparently with
the intention 81 flight, Mt the same time
matlnS very Feeble defense.
The ruse nearly gave him my life. For
on instant ! Thought l bad him, and my
wholo oting thrilled with unholy glce, But
the light in bis eyes and my knowledge Of
his crafty ways speedily put me on my
guard again aud restrained my III timed
exultation. Wen for me that they did.
scarcely Ind | recovered myself when
AbFam Den Aden, with great roar and
strokes that iell Ike lightning, charged