The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-11-20

with THIS last shipped TO the noor with
groans and dull thuds, which sounded like
the tumble of an overgrown frog. ST.
Aubyn's tongue seemed to have taken
new life, and he extolled in higher tones
than before the many virtues, real or inn
aginary, Of his trusted blade" In his
list of tournaments he had tilted with the
best swordsmen in the Old World. and he
did not expect to find his equal in the
New.
-"By the teard of Roland.' cried Bigot,
that is right royal Wanting, st. Aubyn.
l fancy me there are adopts in New
France, for man does not leave such cum
ming behind him. 1t is possible, my good
st. Aubyn, Beaumanoir holds one who
might not give mere child's play" and the
Intendant winked to one of the younger
and more sober Of his followers.
In moment this worthy was upon his
feet. The truth be told he had been long
ing for such an opportunity. Leering, in
his wine-Stimulated humOr, he cried:
Soul of ST. Picot! darest try bout
with me, st. Aubyn?'
with the keenest pleasure, under
standing of course it shall be friendly
fencing only. l seek no quarrel with the
sons of New France, the poorest of whom
the King can i'll afford to lose, say moth
ing of her champion at arms"
At this a murmur of pleasure and
Bigot showed that he was pleased.
Aye, mind you, lie Gaudien, it be in
sport only. Rare sport shall it be, too,
for even Beaumanoir. Up and at it, my
stout worthless"
lie Gaudien found it more difficult to
rise than he had expected, and once upon
his feet it required several minutes for
him to balance himself so as to declare
readiness to begin. st. Aubyn must have
had q OF will for ha ctr
up, wonderfully steady for n man who
had clinked his glass with Bigot until the
latter, noted for his capacity for wine,
showed that he was deeply under its po-
tent spell.
Music" cried the Intcndant. "Give
them music to start the sport
Then opened one Of the widest scenes
ever witnessed i'll the great hall of Beau
MANOR, whose walls had echoed to rev.
elry in all its forms st. Anbyn soon
showed that he was indeed master at
his craft, though in truth it required no
great master-craft to stand ones ground
with the drunken lie Gaudien. The spec
tators looked on with Open-mouthed won
der, cheering now and then at some new
feint or parry. Three times in succession
had st. Aubyn seemed to have got his
| rival at his mercy, but each occasion he,
for reason unknown, spared him.
1t IS easy to understand that lie eau
diem soon began 10 work off the effect of
the liquor lie had quaiIed so literally, so
by this time he was sober enough to
realize that he had 40 slight task upon
hand, though he had yet to learn the ac-
tual strength Of his adversary. But he
acted with cOmmendable caution, trying
to draw out his antagonist rather than
in trying to precipitate n crisis, which
might prove fatal to his hopes.
The band of musicians, the finest in
Quebec. continued their stirring strains
in wild harmony with the sword-play on
| the floor
| The spectators watched the combatants
with awe and admiration, as they waxed
more earnest. while the clashns of the
| ringing swords rang louder and sharper.
with showers of stars shooting from the
changing steel. Bisot clapped his hands
and shouted his approval.
Perhaps the sight made him thirsty.
or he may have been thinking of the need
Of stimulant for tine rivals, as finally he
called for a respite, saying:
This is rare spot, even for Beau
MANOR. Let there be 4 truce long enough
for you. my gallant knights. to taste of
some OF the best afforded by the vine
yards of old Spain"
| The swordsmen did not seem unwilling
to do this, and Immediately goblets were
filled to Overlooking, lie Gaudien stopping
long enough before he lifted the trimming
cup to wipe the perspiration from his
forehead. Somehow st. Aubyn's coun.
tenance had remained unchanged, and it
was wreathed with courtly smile as he
bowed profoundly to Bigots generous
toast:
May the cunning arms of our cham
pions tire not till the red light of morn
ing, though the cock never crows nor the
day dawns at BeaumanOir till Bigot gives
the orderv'
The opening note of music from the
gallery was the signal for the swordsmen
to renew their trial, each entering more
cautiously than before the struggle. For
10 minutes or more this preliminary play
continued, until the excitable Bigot began
to grow uneasy. lie Gaudien, too, would
fain have known that the affair was well
ended. His strong arm already was be-
ginning to tire. But st. Anbyn still
smiled, and still cut and parted with un-