Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-10-24
A SHARP SWORD STROKE.

A SHARP SWORD STROKE.
One afternoon in the early part OF
the dry season, the young British Of
fcers Of the Anglo-Indian cantonment
of Meean Nicer Ia few miles from La
hore, the capital Of Punjaub) were
stirred into no small excitement by the
news that a Hindoo swordsman had
presented himself in camp, and had Of
fered to perform in their presence the
feat of slicing in two, with one slash
of his tulwart (short sword) q lemon,
placed on the palm of a mans bare
hand, without drawing blood or hurt
ing the hard in any way.
AS many of my readers are doubt
less aware, this exploit is quite com
mon one among the native warriors OF
Northern India, but it happened that
none of these officers had ever seen it,
and the first mention of such a sensa-
tional experiment made all as eager
and excited as boys,
Lets have the old chap in by all
means, and see what he can do, cried
Percy Helsham, of the til Shikh In
fantry, "and if he wants rupee GIVEN
ty-fve cents or two to encourage him
before starting, I'm game to stand 1t.
But look here-who's going to
hold the lemon for him." objected
Frank Edwards, of the Third Lahore
Artillery; I'm not going to chance
getting my hand chopped off to please
anybody-not if l know it Y
"Oh, we'll order up one of the Res
salders" (native nou-commissioned Of
fcers), said Helsham, coolly; "they
know all about such tricks, and they
won t care a straw"
"Why, do you really suppose the
fellow means to halve lemon on a
mans hand before your very eyes?'
laughed Harry Parkburst, of the til
Punjaub Irregular Calvary, very apt
ly named "Headlong Harry" by his
brother officers, for he was as head
long in his judgments as in everything
else. "My dear boys, it's nothing
more than mere juggling trick, all
very well for anyone who is green
enough to believe in it,"
Whether by accident or design,
these jeering words were spoken quite
loud enough to be heard by the Hin
doc swordsman himself-a tall, fine
looking man in the prime Of life, ar
rayed in the striking dress Of a Ro-
hilla warrior-who had just come up
to the front of the broad, shady ver-
anda in which the young Englishmen
were seated.
1t is plain that the sneer had cut
him deeply, for his handsome face
darkened at once, and a momentary
quiver of his firm lip told how much
it panied him to be laughed at by this
inexperienced boy.
"Sahib, said he firmly, speaking in
very tolerable English. 81 ask your
pardon if l venture to contradict you;
but when l offered to DO this thing
meant to do it fairly and openly, by
simple skill of hand and sword, with
out any juggling whatever; and ifyou
will find me a man to hold the lemon
for me, will do it here before your
eyes"
ooh, will you?" cried Parkhurst.
"Well, seeing's believing if that's all
that's wanted, I'll hold it for you my
SELF
So saying, he laid his strong brown
hand palm upward on the flat top OF
the balustrade, placed the lemon upon
it and signed to the HindOo to strike.
But the Rohilla, instead Of obeylng'
looked closely and searchingly first at
the lemon itself and then at the hand
on which it rested. Then he made a
negative sign, and, turning round to
Harry Parkhurst, said gravely;
"Sahib, it cannot be done like that;
1 see by the shape of your hand and
by the way in which the fruit lies that
if l try the stroke thus shall certain
ly cut your thumb off. Willyou show
me the other hand -
Parkhurst, who was now beginning
to look for the first time abundantly
serious, held out his left hand without
word. The Rohilla eyed it even
more keenly than before put the lem
on upon it, surveyed them both in ST.
lence for few moments, and then
said suddenly;
"That will do better, Sahib. Ii
&c Lao,;ncy vonr