The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-01-18


ut Will put fresh hot blood Into the
veins OF tho men II you kill that Jap on
! the bald mound yondcr, In the sight of
! our force, but IL YOU should not The
| commander paused.
IF there is an Oriental better with the
] sword than Volbars-tben the world
should know IT, tho Major said. with a
4, laugh.
| The terms were simple. The two par
| ties wero to meet a noon on the eminence
| between the two lines, an armistice beng
\ in effect until tho duel was over, and the
| parties had reached their respective
| commands. Promptly on the hour, a
| white nag was raised above tho japanese
| trenches and answered by the Russians.
| Volbars with his sword. PornolIt and a
senior Captain acting as seconds, and an
accompaniment OF five commission cd
officers, left the lines and advanced to-
ward the mound An outfit similar in de-
tail, according to agreement, approached
from the Japanese force.
Tho two parties met on the bald mound
and elaborate courtesics were exchanged
in English. The principals looscd their
scabbards presently. removed their caps
and blouses and with naked blades faced
each other In the sight of their COM
tice the nucleus OF which was combat
Far 10 the right the main forces OF tho
siege were laundering and belching like
volcanoes at each other.
There was smile upon tho face OF
Watanabc, a snarling smile for his
lips were drawn back, showing ir-
teeln, BuSte0lnR white. HIS
low brow was wrinkled and his close
cropped bristling hair looked dead
black in the vivid noon: The hllt OF
his slim blade was polished like lacquer
from the nimble hands Of his Samurai
fathers. This was Watanabe of Satsu-
ma, whose wrist was a dynamo and
whose thrusts wore sparks. The devil
In the name OF God, let him take the
attack, NTajorw Pernolit whispered
His style may disconcert you"
Vobars waved his second away and
faced the japanese swordsman. His
head seemed to lie upon his right shou
der and the cruel. fearless, sun-darkcned
face of the Russian was alight with brute
Joy. His thick cleaning white arm was
bare, The blade which had opened the
veins Of a half-hundred white men
screamed Ike witch as the master-hand
tried 1t in thin air. The weapons touched.
Where was fear? Where was the first
law called selt-preseryation2 Not In the
faces OF the duelistsl Perhaps, in the
massed battalions before and behnd-the
yellow and the white-watching their
chiefs in combat
Tho STYLES OF the antagonists were In
deed. different but genius met genius
on its own high ground. Each blade
seemed q CULVER Of arrows, each instant
of survival directly due to the grace OF
God. In spite OF his warning, Volbars
took the attack and forced 1t tigerishly.
for he shot his volleys high minute
passed and a fountain OF crimson wellcd
from Watanabe. where his neck and
shoulder met The heavy breathing OF
tho Russian was heard back to his own
lines. Watanabe. sheeted with blood
from his wound, defended himself ST.
lently, He was younger. lighter, superb
ly conditioned
The face of volbars changed hideously.
Sweat ran into his eyes. where the des-
peration of fatigue was plain. His lips
were stiff white cords. Patches Of gray
ish-white showed in his cheeks and tenn
pies. For a second his shoulders
were hunched; then an exultant gasp
was heard from his dry throat
That which had been the left eye in
the face of Watanabe burst Ike a bubble
and ran down. Yet not for the fraction
of n second did the Japanese lose his
guard. Though a window OF tho throne.
still endured. Pernoit and the
senior Captain heard their man mutter
weakly. I'm spent can't kill him.
The grin upon the horrible face OF the
Onc-eyed became more tense He seized
the aggressive. and the Japanese battle |
line greeted the change with a high |
in, stabbIng like a viper, his head twisted |
to spare his dark side. Nolbars's limbs |
were stricken of power, He saw the end |
as he was backed toward his men. a |
tutt OF grass unsteadicd him for a second |
and the Japanese lightning struck,
The sword of Volbars quivered TO the |
earth and the master fell upon It, his |
faco against tho ground. his naked sword
faithless hilt Watanabe bowed TO his |
enemies and walked. unassisted, back TO
his roaring line. His seconds followed |
closely, one wiping tho sword OF the
What was the matter3" tho Russian
questioned. his bronzed face
working with grief. He was the great
.st swordsman in the empiro!'
"A matter of endurance, SIR" replied
The senior Captain.
Maj. Volbars tried to blind his oppo-
lent, instead Of taking the easier way.
&c spoke no word-after he fell
The blado was In Pornollts hand and
IN unspcakable thought rumbled In the
background OF his brain. Two
weeks later, after terrific service. Col
Pornolit was again called upon TO carry
| message to the free cable at Chefu !
Again Togo was safely passed and
light gale was bearing the reefed craft
Ike rocket toward the shontung city.
he Russians face was strength in
he Russia's face was strength In
lis Illness; and the thought in his
Drain held him TO his feet though days
)f privatlon and exposure and nights of
;leeplcssness had wasted his body, The
light OF the future would not be eclipsed.
The best and last friend of the swords
nan was not false enough. nor could the
lying seas nor the utter dark dim tho
panorama of golden years, his brain now
pictured
II was nearly 10 In tho morning when
10 stepped upon the surf-booming beach
It Chefu. lie had not eaten In twenty
our hours. yet his mind did not contain
he thought OF food. His haggard face
vas rough with salt; his helmet and rain
'oat damp and still crusted from tho
lrenching spray. yet It did not occur TO
Inn to change his clothing before nling
he message and seeking the woman. Tho
heathed sword was In his hand a light
thing which had scarcely
'cen apart from him since the duel
An English correspondent accosted him
I the hotel entrance, but Pornolit
rushed by without speaking. The cable
BUSINESS was quickly dispatched. At the
otel Office he was told that Madame Vol
'aTs had left the hotel q few moments
efore, 1t was her custom to stroll on
he bluffs for an hour In pleasant morn
ngs the man It the desk told him
The Russian hastcned up the steep path, |
le was painting heavily before he reached |
he end OF the ascent He saw her white
ace parasol ahead. She was sitting In
cr old seat on the rock near the gate OF
ne American consulate. He checked an |
impulse 10 run forward. She turned her |
cad. arose quickly and came toward |
lm, There was a frightened smile upon
er face.
and.
She peered searchingly into her eyes as
hey turned toward the slope: then thrust /,