The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1913-12-03
A Preliminary Test
of Skill
By MARK HAMMERTON

ing, and since there had been no war
between Germany and any other pow
er since long before he was born he
had had no way of letting off his sur
plus vim. We were in a beer garden,
and he had been sitting at table near
one at which l sat with a party of
American friends.
Getting up from his table. he walked
past US, and, my foot being in his way,
he took pains to stumble against it.
Then, glazing down at me, he said in
English:
II viii pig stick your
what does the fellow mean?'
you've been challenged to fight a
duel" said Washburn. an attache at
the American legation. He had lived
In Berlin a number of years and knew
the ways of the inhabitants.
HE can send all the challenges he
pleases," said. "Fll pay no attention
to them"
TN that case" Washburn replied,
"you must give up the social stand you
have prepared to take in Berlin.
shouldn't like to put you forward as 1
have promised unless you either fight
young Donhoff, whom everybody
knows and who is on intimate terms
with the imperial family, or find some
way out Of the matter"
what way out of the matter is
there?"
"I'll think it over. I've helped sew
eral Americans out of such scrapes.
By the bye, think I'll try the plan by
which / saved Albertson from getting
a sword thrust between his ribs"
what plan?
81 didn't explain it till the affair was
settled, nor will tell you. Put your
self in my hands. ask no questions, and
think can bring you out Of this with
honor, probably with eclat."
assented, and he took a message
from me to Donhoff. 1 was an Amer
lean, and Americans did not fight
duels. However, was willing to fight
under certain conditions, or, rather. l
would prove myself more skillful than
he. We would fire at a hens egg at
than /, 1 would stand up and permit
him to shoot at me as long as he liked
II I hit the egg more times than he, he
was to submit himself as a target for
me-
The hot headed youngster accepted
the conditions Indeed. he was rather
pleased at the novelty Of the plan.
Washburn arranged for a test of skill
In a fencing academy and brought a
basket of eggs to the place. which were
to serve as targets. The affair being
an unusual one, none of the safeguards
common in duel preliminaries were
taken. Washburn fixed the target, sus-
pending the egg by a thread. Donhoff
and ] tossed for order Of trial, and
won. Each principal was to deliver
Eve shots. and the one who shattered
more eggs than the other won.
The day before the test l could
scarcely hit a barn door. but l prac-
ticed sufficiently to hit an egg at least
once in five shots. On the trial 1 spat-
tered the contents twice. Donhoff, who
like all German army officers was a
good marksman. looked upon my work
with evident contempt I missed the
first and second shots, and as soon as
had done so he seemed to lose all in
terest in the contest He had doubtless
made q previous trial and discovered
he could hit the egg every time
i had been instructed by Washburn
that when 1 beat Donhoff-and Wash
burn assured me that if his plan
worked would-I was Immediately to
renounce my right to make a target
OF him. Washburn hung an egg for
him. He fired somewhat carelessly and
missed. He was surprised especially at
seeing the egg vibrating from the wind
Of the ball. He fired a second shot. this
time aiming carefully. Again he miss
ed, and again the egg danced. If now
he hit the egg at every remaining shot
he could still beat me. Though be took
long time to aim before the third
shot, he missed it.
He could now only tie me. But he
had become so irritated with himself
that he was not capable of doing as
good work as before. He missed the
fourth and fifth shots. the egg at each
successive shot vibrating less, indicat-
ing that his aim had grown less accu-
rate. On missing the fifth shot he
threw his pistol down with an oath.
Washburn shot me a glance, and |
cried II renounce the right / have
wont! and. Fastening to Donhoff, put
ont my hand. He took it, muttering
imprecations on himself for having
been so clumsy. Then he and his party
thanked me for my magnanimity and
eft the academy.
"By Jover' exclaimed Washburn.
sinking into chair. "If those fellows
had exercised one-tenth the care they
would have taken in an ordinary duel
] would have had to leave Berlin"
what do you mean?" 1 asked.
"You fired at solid egg, Donhoff at
a shell from which / had drawn the
contents. No ball will hit an empty
eggshell The wind will drive it aside
every time"