The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-10-09


was nearly all out One day we found
it necessary to shift our anchorage
several cable lengths further inshore.
This entailed considerable work az
hedging. Juan, Manuel. Milano and L
walked around the capstan, While
Russo held the turn of the rope The
forecastIe head. where we We're. was
well crowded by harbor officials, steve
doreS' men and visitors. This, with
the fact that it was after knocking off
time, put us all into an ugly MOOD,
especially Juan.
Suddenly Manuel slipped and fe!l
against Juan.
Damn you, ugly dog." cried the
Mexican; "look what you do AT the
same time he showed Manuel
Like a flash the Brazilian blazed
up. He gave Juan such blow IN
the face as sent him staggering TO tile
rail and almost over it. In mo.
ment the Mexican recovered himself
and. Selling one of the capstan bars;
he raised it to strike. Manuel closed
in and the two chnched. Here the
bystanders interfered and separated
them. But the fire in their eyes snow
ed that the affair was not yet ended.
After we had washed and eaten that
evening Milano took me aside and
said:
''Those two fellows are determined
to go ashore and fight out their quar-
rel in some quiet nook where there is
no danger of interference. They want
us with them to see fair play.
SIS it to be a smuggling match?' L
asked.
No. that's too brutal. like beasts
Knives. they say, but We won't allow
that. The cause of the quarrel doesn't
warrant it. I've tried to have them
make up, but they will fight Now. II
they use knives in their present mood,
they will soil themselves and us with
good blood and that Will be disagree
able all around. Down in the CABIN
are two pairs of rapiers that the Eng
lish officers fenced with. Let them
settle their dispute like Frenchmen.'
but they will run each other
through" / objected.
ct won't go so far, you'll see.'
After dark Milano stole down into
khe cabin messroom and obtained the
-four weapons, then joined Manuel,
Juan and me at the gangWay. we
were just ready to shove off in the
boat when Russo decided to come
along.
In ten minutes we landed on the
moonlit beach. Some distance away
we found a level stretch of sand and
there arranged to have the fight take
place. Milano, who carried the foils,
gave the two principals one each, and
another to me. SO that he and l might
interfere II necessary.
Stripping themselves to their waists.
the two opponents squared off from
each other.
Ready" cried Milano, and the two
strips of steel slapped together in
cross. There was something decided
ly realistic in the clash that accompa-
MED the action.
Go" shouted Milano. and the X of
steel broke again and the weapons
4 ;rr1,t q n
snap they clashed. loud in the still
ness of the night-both men tried to
hit hard, they weren't fencing for
points. For a long time neither could
touch the other, for both. having been
man-o-war's men, were experts at
broad-sword practice. Evidently they
did not realize that fOils were for
thrusting, for fiercely they chopped at
each other as though obey We're hand
ling cutlasSes. Milano was quietly
chuckling with suppressed laughter,
and when I saw how things were go
ing the humor of it struck me too.
stop" cried Milano suddenly,
"honor is satisfied
mo, no. yelled tibet COMPLAINTS
together, "blOod! blood!
And they fel! to with redoubled
vigor.
.tAll right, hack away" said Milano,
and aside to me, ''if | had known they
wanted blood 1 would have brought
some bedding. Morning will come be-
fore blood
Russo had lain down on some dried
sea-weed and watched the entire af-
fair as though it were merely COCK
fight Meanwhile the foils kept uD a
continued clashing and quick scraping
and the two fighters darted nimbly
around each other and over the sands.
occasionally one dealing the other
good blow, but, of course, drawing no
blood.
Suddenly Juan was thrown off his
guard, and down came Manners foil,
the point tearing across Juan'S breast,
leaving long red stripe. 1t was an
accidental blow.
Here Milano and / sprang in and
separated them, throwing up their
weapons with ours and thus disarming
them. Both were half dead from eX-
haustion, for they had been at it near
ly an hour. Juan'S wound was only
a deep scratch. but covered his breast
with blood.
Honor is satisfied" cried Milano;
Juan fought braveiy, like tiger, but
fate was with Manuel. Both of you
are brave men-clasp hands"
The two glared at each other a, mo-
ment, then their faces softened and
their hands met. Honor was salts
fed.
With some fresh seaweed we stanch-
ed the wound on Juan's breast. and
then he and Manuel replaced their
shirts and coats. Our next duty was
to seal the entire affair over a bottle
of wine, which we might do at a small
inn half way up the road to the city.
So in that direction we five set out.
A fifteen minutes walk brought us
there. First We hid our weapons in
a clump of bushes outside, for while
our entrance into the wine room with
naked rapierS in our hands might
have been strikingly picturesque, it
might also have excited some unde-
sirable comment. even in that uncon-
Ventional country
The bottle of wine was good and
soon disposed of. 1t SO happened
that we had money with us. SO anoth-
er bottle followed. with a third close
after. BY this time we were all in a
jolly mood, so jolly that we thought
it would be quite a joke TO let the
bos'n and captain stand our anchor
watch. Feeling thus, we decided to
go on to Trieste and take in some of
the sights.
sql ssoIoe peu!euo 'uIe III mIv