Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1908-01-23
A Singular Duel.
[Origina1.1


Some years ago When / was IN New
into a fencing academy opposite the
hotel where l stopped. 1 am fond Of
all the arts of self defense and would
sit by the hour during the afternoon
and evening watching the fencing mas
ter give instruction. At the end Of
each lesson he would send his pupils
foil spinning high in the air, thus in
timating that the lesson was finished.
One evening, while in his academy,
as I was about leaving he asked me
If 1 would like to see a spirited con-
test with the foils between two ex-
perts. When I said l would he told
me to be on hand at Z in the morning,
giving as a reason for the early hour
that the contestants did not care to
fence before Il crowd. When | en-
tered the hall a little before the hour
appointed l saw the principals emerge
from a dressing 0 attired in fenc-
ing costume and each wearing a wire
mask. The fencing master turned to
me and said:
Gin contests between strong men
sometimes the button will Sc broken
off n of the foils. l wish ysu to look
at these weapons that you may be a
witness that they are in good condi-
ton at the start"
I examined the foils and found them
perfect. He handed them to the prin-
cipals, and the contest began. 1 confess
I was disappointed. Neither seemed to
take much interest in the struggle, and
it was an Indifferent performance. !
wondered why l had been invited to
witness it. Meanwhile the fencing
master went to another part of the
room, where suddenly he dropped
something which made q clatter, and ]
turned my eyes i'll his direction. When
I turned them back to the fencers ]
saw that they had suspended the con.
test. One of them was standing in
position; the other was just stepping
into position. Somehow / got the idea
that they had both stepped away from
their places.
When the fencing recommended each
man threw himself into his work as ii
his life depended upon his efforts. Each
was supremely careful of his guard
and each watchful FOR some opening
through which he might pierce his ad.
yersary. 1t was not long before I saw
blood oozing from the sword arm OF
n Of the fencers. 1 looked at the
fencing master, supposing' he would
call a halt. Certainly, as he had fear
ed, a button had been broken OFF a foil
he could not but see the blood. but he
paid no attention to it. Presently more
blood spurted, this time from the shout.
der Of the other fencer, and the tive
were bleeding %profusely.
Whatever had been the intent at the
beginning, l was sure that now the
men were fighting for their lives. They
were both skilled with the foil, and the
exhibition, as promised, had become
one of great brilliancy. Presently he
who was wounded in the shoulder re
ceived another wound in the side. This
time the fencing master started to In
terfere, but the wounded man waved
him away, and the fighting went on.
/ concentrated my vision to discover
the condition Of the foils. Had both
buttons been broken? Impossible
There was some trickery, some method
of making the weapons effective. Then
1 remembered the noise made by the
fencing master just before the change
had come in the character of the con
test. and it suddenly dawned upon me
that that movement was a device tt
draw my attention while the foils were