The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-12-16
"And how about the duel?" asked

said that the report was about On
par with what we have already
heard. He even went SO far ss to
swear that the count had tried re-
pea1edly to compromise matters aft
er the conflict had begun, that he
begged of Nevel to give up the bat
tie, but that the latter, thirsting for
the young nobleman's blood, kept
hotly, madly at it.
It was at this juncture and with
cat referring to the surgeon that
the emperor sent for Ruric, and,
having learned that lieutenant of
the Khitagorod guard was present
at the duel, he sent for him also.
Orsa arrived first and was present
when Ruric came.
And now Ruric Nevel stood be-
fore his emperor. Peter gazed upon
him for some moments, and then he
said:
~Sir. thy bearing is bold"
"Mhy should it not be, sire, when
1 stand before one whom [ honor
and respect and do not fear?" So
spoke Ruric calmly and with pecul-
lar dignity.
ANot fear?" repeated the auto
crat sternly.
4No, sire. Peter of Russia is not
man to be feared by those who love
and honor him.
sInsolencew uttered the duke.
The emperor looked up into his
face, and he, added:
aNow, sire, you can see for your.
self some of his traits Of character"
sAye," returned Peter, 81 see.
They are wonderful. ! knew not
that among my artisans there were
men of such Holdness."
The duke knew not how to in
terpret this, and he moved back a
pace.
'sNow, SIR resumed Peter, turn
ing to the gunmaker, chow dared
you strike Russian nobleman ?"
81 did not, sire. Conrad Damonof
came to my shop, and he brought
me a paper in which I was required
or ordered to relinquish all claims
to the hand Of
"sire,,.' interposed the duke, che
misstates"
s'Never mind," broke in the en-
peror, with an authoritative wave of
the hand, Eve will hear nothing
about the lady here. Why did you
strike the count !"
Because, sire, he descended from
his station and struck me. He
threw away the shield which should
protect the nobleman and struck
me without proyocation.a
"And then you knocked him
dowr?:''
EI did, sire
"And perhaps you would have
done the same to me"
sSire,'' answered the youth quick
ly, "when Damonof tried by threats
to make me sign MS paper | told
him there was but one man on
earth at whose order I would do
that thing. The man who has the
right to command shall never have
occasion to strike me-"
There was something in this reply
and more in the tone and bearing of
him who spoke it that made the
duke tremble. He saw plainly that
the emperor's eyes sparkled with ad-
miration as they rested upon the
gunmaker.
sBut now about this DUEL" re-
sumed the emperor. Chow dared
you take advantage of the count in
the confict:?'
advantage, sire?" repeated the
youth n.surprise.
"Aye. Did he not, Stephen Ur-
zen?a
"He did, sire,'' replied the man
thus addressed.
"And which of the two do you call
the best swordsman Peter asked.
"Whv, sir, the count is OF was
vastly his superior
Sand what say you, sir lieuten-
ant?:''
Alaric trembled, for this was ad-
dressed to him. He knew that the
duke was anxious to crush his
friend, and he feared to draw the
wrath of that powerful nobleman
down upon his head. But a happy
thought came to his aid.
Sire he said, Il would rather
you would Judge Of that for your
SELF
''Me Judge? And how am l to do