Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-05-17
THE DUEL ON
FLOATING LOGS,
BY Major Hamilton.

Two hundred miles below Vicksbure
there lies little hamlet upon tho
western shore of the Mississippi River
known MS Rufftown.
The method of spelling the name is
malice aforethought; for when the set
Element was first christcncd, the RATS.
men and steamboat hands meant
rough
The town consisted of long wood
dock, where steamers occasionally
came for fuel, n half-dozen slab Tho.
tells" where oil the Accommodations
to be had were sold by the quart from
jug, two stores, score of shrunken
houses, and away back, almost to the
bluff, a log school-house.
was the teacher In tAat log school
house. ut n salary of seven dollars a
month and board; the latter, in New
England style, boarding round"
l think earned my wages. Tint
may be rs 1t may. Certain 1t was that
when spring came and the term closed,
the trustee could have been no better
pleased to pay and discharge me than
was Mt being discharged. Had he
forgotten to pay me, should have dis
charged myself. was disguised with
Rufftown, and had determined to yoy-
age to New Orleans. Consequently the
close of my engagement pleased me
better than its continuance.
School finished" us the boys had
1t, on Saturday. On Monday had
found u place us raftsman upon a
great raft, bound for the end of the
river. From teaching the young idea
how to shoot had changed to teach
Ing logs how to foat-from lands
man had become a sailor.
The crew were one and all strangers
to me, tough and brawny lumbermen
from the up-country. was probably
the only green hand aboard.
For few days all went well. I
could push an oar and boil potatoes
so that / was able to fill the duties of
steersman or cook; but was young
and foolish enough to think that my
book-knowledge, slight though 1t was
placed me above the other men upon
the raft. and I probably showed it.
This engendercd strife.
AT first, the scorn which grew in nv
companions breasts showed itself in
looks and sneering words; but, us the
days and nights passed, and 1 smoked
my pipe apart from the others, and did
not join them in their songs and
dances after the sun went down, a
more open and hostile spirit betrayed
itself, and suddenly l was aroused
from my dream of superiority by the
return of blow for some scornful
word which I'had cast at one Of the
raftslnen. defended myself as best
might, and rather hatter myself now,
as look back, that gave us many
hard knocks as received; but the bad
blood was out, and my life becamed
wretched.
For time held my own with my
opponents, but when the number of
my prosecutors grew, as it shortly did,
to include every man on board, from
captain down, felt that prudence was
the better part of valor, and simply
sought to avoid intercourse or trouble
Of any kind.
1.-The teacher's kinder techy, eh ?" said
Jack Nicholson to his companion, us
they eyed me where sat, at the rear
Of the great raft, smoking alone. Hes
kinder techy an heightened. Won't
speak to no one now. What he wants
Is another good t'rashing."
yes" continued Nicholson, che
needs more lickin' to make him know
his place. He's like n dog-the more
you lick 'em the more"
The comparison was too much for
me. Quick us n flash, seized block
of wood, hurled it at the speaker, and
felled him to the floor of the raft. His
companion assisted him to rise and
walk away; but that night slept with
my hand within my bosom upon my
knife. The climax had come; Nichol
son would kill me now, If was not
careful.
AT noon. the next day, the friend of
my enemy spoke to me after dinner,
and called me one side. l followed
him.
you knocked lack down yester
day." he said.
81 know it," replied.
'.He wants satisfaction"
'Then let him get it." said 1, turning
away, enraged.
mo, no." said the man, don't be q
fool. He's mad clear through. Ef We
won't fight him, he'll strike ye in the
dark. Ye must 1ight!'
reflected II moment. What this man
said was doubtless true. Nicholson
hated me and wished to have 1t out Mt
once.
"What does he propose?' said 1.
"A duel, with knives!"
shuddered. The man meant to kill
me, as had feared.
"But this Nicholson is twice my size.
He could seize me and cut my throat
while struggled helplessly," l re-
turned. at would not be fair fight"
"Zack has thought of that, and pro-
poses to fight like this: Each man
shall choose log, and set 1t atloat
behind the raft. Then you shall both
jump into the river and swim to the
logs, each seat yourself upon one. and
SO fight"
laughed.
"But ii we fought with knives the
logs might be hundred feet apart, and
we could not do each other much
harm"
'.The logs to be fastened together
by thirty feet of chain"
1t was plan to murder me; but
would die game.
Agreed" said l, hoarsely. when
shall the duel take place"
Now" said Nickolson's friend. "It's
us good time rs any"
bowed my head in silent consent.
eWbo's your seceadT said the man.