Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-04-19

Now / had little doubt of the result of
this conflict. Unless Scammell was different
in sword play from those / had met either
in sport or earnest, he would be disarmed
ere he had well begun. 1t was thought q
trick which depended more on sheer
strength than great skill, for of the latter
l had little p;ore than fair ability to de.
fend myself without seeking to pass the
guard of practiced swordsman.
1t was simply that l would use rapier of
greater weight than my opponent (Which
would be but NATURALLY, and at the proper
time throw my guard wide open by lowering
my hand. On the instant of the onset which
would be sure to follow, had but to step
back pace and bring up my weapon with all
strength and speed, the fairly sure result be-
ing that the sword Of my adversary would be
driven from his hand or the blade fly to
pieces by the force of the blow. Whether
this trick is allowable save under the rule
that "alls fair in war;" scarcely know, but
in sport had tried it often, and with never
afailurc, even though my opponent knew my
intention.
With the hint of Scammell's light hand
which had been given me by Belden, was
sufficiently without worry to take with full
zest the apparent good luck which had come
to me, and, with no thought of an untoward
slip in my fair prospects, returned to the
Kings Arms, and there wrote note in
Get terms inviting Scammell and his second
to meet me the day and hour on which had
determined.
This being dispatched to his room to await
his coming, ate my evening meal, and then
sailed to the shipyard for my usual look at
the Phantom.
She still swung in the old spot, with an
easy grace and an apparent unlifting of her
forefoot, an effect caused by the sheer of her
deck lines. My soul went out to her, for she
seemed to know me and strain at the cable
like high-mettled steed that only needed
the word to take the bit and be off. Rusty
she was, and foul besides, but, rusty and foul,
she could outpoint half his majesty's heavy.
going cruisers, and waved my hand ut her
as 1 would have done to my lady had one,
swearing to give the word ere that day fort
night.
How little l knew we would both be well
tried by then!
WAVED my hand to her and turned to 20,
when my eye caught huge coil of black
smoke rising from near the rivers edge far
down the city. That it was a fire on shore
made out at glance, nor did / give it more
than passing notice until, on entering the
srreets again, / became aware of the con-
course pouring in that direction. Soldiers
by companies, disarmed and bearing buckets,
were hurrying toward the confagration, but
not until reaching the Kings Arms and as.
cending to the fine cupola that surmounted
it did ! know that the fire was of vast ex.
tent. And even as looked it spread from
house to house, threatening to assume the
proportions of the great scourge of two years
before.
Now with interest well sharpened made
haste to get to the scene of the burning and
be of use-a thing not so easy to do, owing
tic the press of a mass of people who stood
about useless and curious, watching the play
Of the great sheets of flame, and giving ex.
ercise to their voices when their hands might
have been of better service.
l soon saw, however, that there was nc
organized effort to suppress the flames. and
without order my arm was no better than
the weakest. But of this second mighty fire
in New York, in which upward of three
hundred buildings were destroyed, I have lit
tie to do. Looking back from these later
days flor am an old man now, it seems as
though the smoke had beckoned me to its
source that might take my next step in the
quickening drama of my life, the plot of
which was to lead me through travail! and
bcodshed, that in the end might be fitted
to enjoy the great happiness it has been the
will OF God to vouchsafe me.