The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-09


of their own accord and began 10 recon
from one another. They rose to their
feet. They left the boat at different sides.
''At lastT' the journalist Missed from be-
tween his white lips.
Now, poltroon, you shall not escape
me-" snarled the deputy. as he pressed
wet, scentless handkerchief TO his chilly
nose.
IF only we had seconds"
IF we but had seconds and a doctor, I
would not permit you to leave this ground
alive. This fight should be a / outrance.'
l would insist on my right TO fire on you
so long as breath remained in my body
Go it!' said Capt Kettle, cheerfully.
That's your sort. III have things all
fixed up in a minute, and then you catI
wade in handsomely. This is rare good
pistol box Of yours; NOT drop of we;
has got inside"
You waste time, captain" said Legrand.
I'VE cannot fight here now. We have no
seconds. 1t would be irregular"
mot a bit Of it," said Kettle. Il will
be second to both of you"
1T is not permitted by our laws of duel
have az least one friend to watch his in
terests."
Right o. said Capt. Kettle Here's
my second mate quite handy, and most
worthy man, gentlemen. He holds mas
ter's ticket, and has commanded his own
ship before he met with misfortune. He'll
hold the handkerchief for one of you
whilst l give a knee TO the other
M. Legrand frowned and shook his bullet
head. But captain" he said, you for
got; we have no DOCTOR
II" said Kettle, lam a competent sur
geon for temporary bandaging; and" he
| ADDED sourly, II could offer my services
as undertaken if thought they would be
| needed "
Sir" said Legrand your remark is
suited to my adversary, but to me it is
| an insult
Then please log il down as such and
remember it when you and / stand up to-
gether after this affair is over. Please
sir, TO plant yourself here and take this
| pistol By James! do you hear me? I'm
bossing this fight now, and it's got to be
carried through as l say. The man who
doesn't do as he's bid will be shot in very
quick time. It's all South Shields to a
tin tack 1 lose my berth on that steamer
for putting in here at all. So I'm not in
clined to stick at trifes. Now, Mr. Mate,
you bring up your man and give him his
gun, and put him by that green stone yon-
der"
The deputy's voice rose to a scream.
But this is most irregular He is no
more than ten yards away. This is muir
derr'
you came here for murder, didn't your"
said Kettle. I'm not going to look on
whilst you pop off these humbugging little
toys down rifle range. Here's your Wea-
pom, loaded and cooked; and mind not to
fire till you hear the word. Now, matey,
stand wide. And listen here, you other
two, you We to blaze away when I sing
three and not before, and not after; and
the one who breaks that rule will get
shot in him that will mean a funeral
Capt. Kettle stepped back, ana ostenta-
tiously pulled a revolver from his back
pocket and cooked it. "Now," he said
ready? One--two-threei"
The shots came almost together, and
each of the duellists staggered, and each
evidently marvelled to find himself alive.
The journalist pulled himself together
first. II am not hurt, he said. Load my
pistol again"
Capt Kettle stepped forward with a
! courteous smile. Certainly" he said.
Gentlemen, 1 am glad to see you are
warming up to your work Alatey, just
have the kindness 10 load up for NJ. Lee
! grand There you are. No, cock it, sir;
| cock il before you shoot And wait for
| the word. One!-twO i-three!'
Again there was a miss on both sides,
and the second mate whistled with cheer
! full contempt But at the third discharge a
! patch of red showed on the thumb of NJ.
| Creves left hand, and The deputy was
| quick to see It, "AhP' he cried. l have
wounded him. My honor is satisfied"
Then your honor must be a mighty
small thing" grunted Capt. Kettle.
"You do not understand" said NJ. Le-
grand. Il am tender of heart. I do not
wish TO see him suffer more. I will en-
brace him, and all shall be forgiven.
No" said Creve. 1T is merely a nail
scratch | demand another shot
Bravo SpectaclesI' shouted Capt. Ket-
tle. 81 always did think there was good
in you. Here, you fat man, get back to
your mark BY James, sir, get back, or
I'll kick you to it, And take this gun
Don't splutter. If you've any remarks TO
address to me, reserve them for after
wards. / can telfyou you're not through
with this first affair yet"
A fourth cartridge was wasted on each
side, a fifth, and sixth, bur in the seventh
round the journalist hit NJ. Camille Lee
grand in the right shoulder, and that
worthy fell to the ground bowling that
death was upon him. Kettle went up and
made a quick examination.
Yes he said; bullet in at one side and
out at the other No bones touched, and
scarcely any haemorrhage. You'll be sound
again in a fortnight, and you can go on
with the game now if you like"
NO" said M. Legrand; 81 am wounded
to the death. The pain suffer is frightful.
But die in defense of my principles Let
that be known by the papers; i'm defense
of my principlesr" Then he tainted and
sheer funk was Capt. Kettles summing
up Of the situation.
lie is not a fighting man." said the jour
nalist. Gle was pressed into this affair by
the custom of our country"
Then more fool he said Kettle. But
he should so about with less splutter on
his tongue, or someone will be kicking
him one of these days. And now, sir, as
believe you want to parade me, l must ask
you to get along. My time is short"
The tall man ia the baggy clothes placed
a hand over his heart and bowed.
Sir he said Il used hasty words to
you when l was a stranger to your quail
ties. Since then l have learnt that you are
not only gentleman, but also-er-aiso a
man of letters. 1t would go against my
heart TO fight you now, but if you an
sist-' i-eas
Not at ALL" said Kettle "I should be
very sorry to make cold meat of a gentle
man who said such pleasant things about
my poetry. Er-you know, some of these
verses may want a bit of the spelling al
tered and stop or two put in, but you
keep man in the office to do that, don't
your"
Several men," said the journalist
And you'll send the cheque to care of
my owners? Thanks. All there's Mr.. I,e-
grand coming round. / wonder IL he wants
70 haua bte shot at ma bofora I soO -,