Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-01-16

~ .. 4zlIIV
He spfGrg upon me actth the hcddLOng
feTocttU of q tiger.
to Yield while could draw breath.
My opponent had the first blood. By
some accident or clumsiness on my part
his sword in glancing off mine struck my
shoulder, peeling it. But the wound,
though it bled freely, was a flea bite, and if
it had any effect at all it was to spur me
on. 1 pressed hard, 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 it,
I kept pushing him steadily before me till
at last his heel was against the vessels SIDE
Finding himself at the wall, he uttered a
great oath, the first word he had spoken
since we engaged, and piled his weapon
with such swiftness and force that it was
marvel escaped being slain on the spot.
No doubt it was my reckless calm that
| saved me. At any rate, by driving in and
slashing and guarding and thrusting as
if had the eyes of Argus and the hands of
Briareus was able to maintain my ground;
nay, was able to keep his back glued to the
briggs side.
Blood flowed pretty freely on both sides,
yet the sight Of it did not relax my resolu-
ton, if resolution it can be called, which
was blind decision to have my sword in
my opponents vitals or his in mine. One
of us two must die. That was the fell YER
dict. So we fought not to show our science,
but as men fight who are bent on killing
each other in the shortest possible space of
time l had but to look into his eyes to see
the fate intended for me, and l daresay he
looked into mine and read with equal clear
ness that meant for him.
There was no device known to either of
us-and Abram ben Alden must have cursed
himself for my deXterity-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 either side.
The breathing was becoming hard and
fast, and there was some risk we might be
deprived of the satisfaction for which both
of us painted by our very eagerness and vio-
lence in trying to get it. That some such
thought must have flashed across Abram
ben Adens mind was quickly made mani
fest by his maneuvering. Blowing and
staggering as if in the last stage of exhaus-
tion, he suddenly swerved, apparently with
the intention of flight, at the same time
making very feeble defense.
The ruse nearly gave him my life. For
an instant l thought l had him, and my
whole being thrilled with unholy glee. But
the light in his eyes and my knowledge of
his crafty ways speedily put me on my
guard again and restrained my i'll timed
exultation. Well for me that they did.
Scarcely had l recovered myself when
Abram ben Alden, with a great roar and
strokes that fell like lightning, charged
upon me, pushing me back and nearly run
ming in under my sword. But he had de
layed the onset just a second too long.
Had he made his rush Immediately on the
heels of his retreat, had been a dead man.
But he took too much pains to mislead me.
Deception had o'erleaped itself and opened
my eyes.
But he was quickly to make amends for
his mistake in tactics. He had been saw
age before. His failure turned him into d
fend. His sword sang in my ears like nest
of hornets, and he seemed to be striking
from all points at once. Overcome by
an onslaught that was the very fury of
the pit, went steadily back, though ex-
ertng all my strength and skill. Abram
ben Alden had got his second wind, which
was stronger than the first, while I was
done The end must be at hand.
This curdling thought had just been
forced upon me, when in one of our most
furious moments my antagonists sword
broke without warning in his hand. My
blood leaped afresh at the sight, and must
have swelled with the idea of vengeance.
Now in very truth had him, for he could
not escape. With a despairing cry upon
the name of Allah, he threw up his hands
as if expecting to be instantly dispatched.
And indeed my sword was in the air to
cleave him in two, but the blow never fell.
Even with all my passions afiame l could
not take such advantage of a defenseless
man.
~ have broken your sword" l said in a
hoarse rattle; NOW l will break your
neck" and dropping my weapon l sprang
at him. The next instant we were Keeling
in deadly wrestle. He was grown man,
strong, sinewy and uncommonly active.
was but STRIPPING, soft of bone and mus
Gle; yet my hands were no sooner about
him than knew which of us was master.
We rolled and swayed to and fro, doing
my best to squeeze and shake the wind out
of him, and he striving like the foul fiend
to get at my throat, but my hold was firm
if my breath should be Short and besides
was ut familiar exercise, whereas the game
must have been strange to him.
When judged the wind to be pretty well
out of him, drew him close to me with a
sudden jerk, my elbows hard on his ribs,
my left knee at the point of his right leg;
then carefully maintaining the bearlike
embrace while putting forth my whole
strength bent him back, and he turned
over like willow sapling. Then, clutchine
his throat and the lower part of his body
before he could recover, lifted him high
in the air and brought him down with all
my might on the edge of the bulwark. He
yelled in fright and pain that his back was
broken, but it was death or nothing. In an
instant he was up again, but finding him
limp and listless in my hands, instead OF
bringing him down with a second crash
cast him from me, and he fell into the sea
with splash like log.