New-York tribune., 1922-10-12
The Togoer
Fityurse's Most ThriIlinr Duel
copr.. Now York Tribune Iao,. ipas

thrust en- cdrte---that same thrust which
III taught Georges Clemenceau< and
which earned him the nom de gao,Te
Of "The Tiger"
| He was late at tho parry. My blade
ripped his dorsal fin.
"Aha!" I cried, "you are touched!'
The Beast said nothing. But his
shrug said plain as words: ut is moth
ingi Only scratchi'
The grotto In which we were fight
ing was illuminated by phosphorescent
light. The tide was coming in.
The water was already up to my
knees. This impeded my movements
but it was a great advantage to the
Swordfsh.
We hung blade to blade for a mo-
ment, studying each other.
But am too distinguished swords
man to trife with an adversary long,
or to permit him to trife with mo.
Beast" said to the Swordfsh,
'you are looking in the eyes Of q
gentleman; gentleman who does you
too much honor in crossing blades
with you. But you have no concep-
tion Of what the word gentleman
means!"
The Swordfish's eyes grew red with
anger at my taunt-which was. admit,
not in the best taste.
Suddenly he delivered five thrusts,
with the directness and rapidity Of
lightning. The first, the second, the
third, the fourth, parried. The fifth
! almost did not parry. 1t penetrated
my clothing, grazing my skin.
We started apart, our swords dis
engaged, and regarded each other in
mutual surprise.
1t was easy to see from his man
ner that the Swordfsh had not ex-
pected SO much strength in 80 slender
a person as myself.
And I, on the other hand, confess
freely that l was not prepared for so
much fnease on the part OF the Sword
fsh.
"Come, come" I muttered, "this Is
to be really duel, and not slaughter,
as I had feared. This animal really
knows how to use his sword!"
The Swordflsh grinned malevolently
at my words.
Fencing with me has always been
an instinct, an art, science, a pas
sion, a game, profession, almost a
religion-all these things in one. /
have taken the best points Of the
French, the Spanish and the Italian
schools and blended them into one
system
The Fitzurse system, 1t has been
called. &
I have invented combinations in
which I look five, ten, fifteen moves
ahead, as does a good chess player.
And as fence I increase the pace,
accelerate the tempo.
Mort de tout de les didblesp
cried, as the Swordfsh emerged un-
wounded from that calculated tempest
of thrusts and lunges which is my COM
bination No. Z. Animal, you are in
deed worthy of my steel!"
He was Beast. But l respected
his skill.
And-wel!, must make an ad
mission!
I did not feel fear. have seldom
felt fear But began to feel anxiety.
The concluding lunge Of combination
No. I'd thrust en- tierce, following
seven feints en- carte calculated to
draw an opponents blade from the
proper line-the thrust with which
impaled the left lung of Count Henry
de Turin on May 18th, 1so4-has nevcr
been pasT"ied bg any human beingl {
But, nom de Dieu!" / murmured,
this Swordfish Is not human being!"
I gave him combination No. 9.
He laughed.
And then with the speed of a demon
ne retorted With my own combination
No. S! A aeries known only to the
Masters, and knosom to them, only be-
cause l taught 1t to them! r
l met it faultlessly-I am the only
man in the world who could have met
it--but it was near thing.
AT the final parry the points turned
upon each other in as small a compass
as wedding ring. II
The Swordfsh fell back astonished.
He had counted me as dead.
And l noted one thing with salts
faction-he was breathing heavily.
! had always kept myself fit.
The Swordhsh, on the contrary had
led an evil ife.
IN the long. run. condition tells.
a tyro, seeing the Swordfish winded.
might have rested
But | am Master.
] redoubled my efforts, increased NV
speed, accelerated the rhythm, rushed
upon him with whirlwind that waa ali
points. Twice wounded him-and againi
"Ahal ! said. "You give ground
Come! Come! At this rate we shall
be at home thrusts soonl'
The entrance to the grotto was barred
by the wreck Of The Jasper B., on the
deck Of which lay the unconscious forms
OF Clement j. Cleggett and the Princess.
a sudden fancy took me.
"Haye you ever seen butterfly
pinned to wall z" I said to the Sword.
fish. "Well, in q moment shall nail
you to the hull Of yonder schooner
My savior fuire had returned. So
had my sang frosd
The Swordfish, on the contrary. wa.
losing both very rapidly.
In these affairs the moral element
counts.
The .Swordfish turned pale. Some
premonition Of the agony Of death must