The daily Alaskan., 1915-07-12

and suitable accommodations provided for the king, court and nobility, the king and his tribune In the center, the tribune being the constable and mar shals of France, who were the judges.
 The day of the duel was a beautiful morning in midsummer. Crowds from Paris began early to pour forth to- ward the battle-ground. The archers of the guard took the place of mod ern policemen in keeping the crowd from breaking through the barrier and invading the field of battle. The king arrived, attended by his sister, princes | of the blood and many nObles. A sin gular feature was an eXecutoner and his assistants, who were intended to take charge of the corpse of the van quished, in case he was killed, for hanging on 6 gibbet.
 As soon as the king was seated the herald advanced and proclaimed the combat, asserting that no one should interfere with either of the combat ants on peril of his life. Chatagnerie | left his tent, accompanied by some 300 of his friends. JarnaC next appeared escorted by the grand equerry and 12O gentlemen wearing his ColOrs. The shields of the combatants were hung on either side Of the king. Then came the ceremony of the presentation of the arms, which was principally test ing of the weapons. This having been ! accomplished, there was another long proclamation from the herald, and the cOmbatants having paraded around the field, preceded by their arms, after a religious ceremony in which each af- | frmed his cause to be just one, they were conducted to their stations, and the herald, advancing, shouted, "Lais- sez aller les bons combatants," which means in plain American, Let 'em gO!
 Such Is a condensation of the prelim- | inaries to a duel In high life during the middle of the sixteenth century. The fight was by no means commensurate with the preparation, for 1t was de Cided quickly. The duGlists advanced Jarnac slowly, protecting himself with ] his shield; ChutRgneric rapidly and 1 full of confidence. As soon as they | met the latter Sprang upon his oppo- | nent, aiming a crushing blow at his | head. Jarnac, instead of warding off ] the blow with his sword, as was to be 1 expected, received it on hls shield and, | ducking, made a thrust for his OppO- nent's legs. He struck Chatagnerie in | the hollow of the knee. Before the lat | ter could recover himself Jarnac re peated the thrust at the same point | and cut the tendons, giving new phrase to dueling-the coup de Jarnac, which in those days was not a foul, but perfectly legitimate. Chatagnerie staggered, dropped his sword and fell, | the blood flowing from his wound.
 A cry of amazement greeted thls con- quest of the champion swOrdsman of France within q few seconds by one who had no especial reputation as a man at arms.
 By the code of that day three courses were open to the yictOr-he might Kill his opponent and hand his body over 1 to the eXeCutiOner to be hanged; he might spare his life after eXacting a restoration of hls honor by the van | quished confessing himself to be in CT TOT, or he might surrender him to the king Jarnac called upon his enemy to restore him his honor. Chatagnerie's reply was an attempt to rise, but 1t failed. JarnaC, then advancing to the king, said:
 Sire, entreat you to esteem me a man of honor l give you Chata- gnerie's life. It Is our youth alone which is the cause of this trouble. Let no imputatiOn rest either on his family or upon him on account of his offense, for 1 surrender him to you"
 But the king, not realizing that his scapegoat was unable to continue the fight, made no answer. Jarnac raised his eyes to heaven. "LOrd, l am not worthy, for 1t is not to myself, but to thee, that l owe the victory" Then, returning to Chatagnerie, he begged him to surrender. But the scapegoat, raising himself on one knee and re- gaining his lost sword, cndeavored to strike. Jarnac stepped back, saying, DO not move or 1 will kill you 'Kin me-" replied the vanqulshed man and fell back exhausted from loss of blood.
 Again Jarnac went to the king and implored him to give him the victory, a victory which condemned the king himself, but Henry refused. Jarnac, expecting that his former friend would bleed to death, cried: Sire, he is dy- ing. For the love of heaven, accept his life at my hands" Henry, refusing to pronounce his own condemnation, still refused till the constable joined his en- treaties to those of Jarnac. Then Henry, seeing that the sympathies of the assembly were against him, said to Jarnac, "You have done your duty, and your honor should be restored to you" And he ordered that Chata- gnerie be removed. JarnaC had the right to be escorted from the field by his followers to the sound of martial ] music, but he declined the honor. When he refused the king, having had +y,,,o +o ,,,rb bis dfsoDDOintmaDt call