Year: 1877

the two pripcipals, two seconds an


surgeons to each present. After Car,


fully watching and examining the pos


tion, for the antagonistic second was


practiced hand in these affairs, we meas


ured the ground of, perpendicular t


the rising sun, which, appeared in all il


majesty, melting the risings mists, an


gave evidence of one of those beautiful


bright days, SO common and peculiar t


that magnificent climate. However


there was no time for moralizing or fo


romance. l won the choice of position


which gave my antagonist the giving @


the word; neither to fire before the wor


fire |" nor after the word "three,


steadily counted by the second, which b
did very fairly.


His principal fred between the word
cone" and "two," while mine fire,
about the word "two." l noticed my
friend slightly WINGED about the righ
foot, and although he denied any injury
/ found on examination that the leg wa
slightly "skelped," but it amounted t,
nothing of moment, while his antagon
ist had not been touched.


On reporting to my antagonists sec
ond, and stating that l presumed tha
his principal was satisfied with this or
dinary adjustment Of matters, he con
ferred with him, but promptly returned
and informed me that his principal de
mande6 another shot. l was much in
censed at this, and protested against it Al
giving evidence, not of reparation, but
of revenge. AS there was no alterna
tive l lectured my principal thoroughly
upon his aim, and the Importance of saw
ing his life. He listened very respect
fully and calmly, but there was lack Of
decision and energy about his reply that
| did not fancy, as he thanked me and
promised to try harder and do better
next time.


The next shot was exchanged with
about the same fOrmality, my friend
firing, as usual, about the word "two,"
and his antagonist much quicker. l no.
ticed the dust fly from my friends coat,
but, OH examination, found that the bali
of his antagonist had gone through the
lapel without injuring him-his antag-
onist as before untouched.


l now felt confident that my principal
was throwing his fire away, and, although
1 charged him with it; yet I made
no comment on it, as supposed
that there was an end to the matter. On
to the other second, we were
aroused by the demand for third shot; a
demand that I denounced as unusual,
vindictive and inexcusS-
BILE, as we'll as contrary to all rules of the
code, and against such evidence. But
the only reply was that the foe had de-
termined that one or other should not
leave the ground alive. Seeing the i'm
placable revenge of our antagonist, and
that he had got the perfect range of my
friend, / asked and obtained permission
to withdraw him from the position, nm
der the plea of dressing his wound which
was granted by the other second.


While the surgeon was examining the
strips, stated to my principal that l
was confident that he had thrown his
first two fires away, and that / should
leave him, for such nonsensical conduct
did not suit me. His other friend en-
treated me to remain, which l doubt il l
should have done, had il not been for
the altered conduct of my principal.
Rising from the log, upon which he had
been seated while the surgeon attended
the dressing, and taking my hand with a
firm grasp, he said "Don't leave me.
/ acknowledge throwing away my fire,
the other shots, but now l see the cor
rectness of your reasoning, and l will not
do it again" I said, "I am willing to
aid y you all in my power, and to the last
moment; but if your judgment is su-
perior to mine, then you can have no use
for me-" The pleasant gay appearance
had left his face, and the firm expression
of his eye and fixed condition of his
features satisfied me of his resolve and
success, if his antagonist should not pre-
vent it, by fatal shot, first.


Upon my reporting to my an
tagonist's second, of the readiness of my
principal, they were again placed in
their old position, though the increased
height of the sun, I thought, made some
difference to my antagonist. Just before
the weapons were handed to the parties
our foe turning front face, and raising
his right arm, exclaimed in loud and
excited voice, "I said when came here
that one or the other should not leave
this ground alive, and now ] swear it."


/ was very glad to see him excited,
hoping it would disturb his aim, but 1
was mistaken. On inspecting my friend,
l found him perfectly calm and unmoved, /,
but this firm expression showed that he
had gotten rid of his nonsensical gener-
osity, for, when a good shot without
cause is trying to put an ounce of lead
in your heart, not even to "pOint a
it is time for useless charity to
leaveit.


The third and last shot was given as
before, but the result was widely differ
ent. They both fired about the same
time as they had before, and ! saw dis
tinctly the dust again fly from the coat
of my friend, but his antagonist stag
gered, reeled and fell into the arms of
his second, corpse.


found the aim of the dead man had
been accurate beyond what should have
imagined from his excited condition,
and gave high evidence of his resolution
and courage, for his ball had passed
through my friends coat, missing his
body by perhaps an inch. My opposite
second reported to me the inability of
his principal to continue the combat,
and declining my offer of surgical aid,
we bowed politely to each other and
parted.


/ had my friend examined carefully
for any wound in the chest or neighbor-
hood of the body, and, after being salts
fed of his immunity, remained half
an hour in conversation with him and
his two friends, then bid them farewell,
my friend on his narrow
escape, desired my remembrance to bis
lady-love. and, mounting my horse,
took the CoHeevIlle road with my ser
want, and, as was in an entirely differ.
ent part Of the State, Inever heard OF
them after. -


And that vas oil knew


OF her he loved, or him he slew