Year: 1873

that this would be the report of a pistol, he
drew his own weapon and discharged it, first
asking the question and receiving the usual
answer that both were ready.


THE DUEL


NlcCluskey was the first to fire. wheeling as
he did so, though the smoke had scarcely
curled up from his pistol before the report Of
Anderson's weapon followed. A momentary
pause ensued, each of the antagonists closely
scanning the other to note the effe t of the
shot. Across Anderson's cheek a deep fur
row, from which the blood slowly began to
trickle down, told the work of his antagonist,
while McCluskey remained standing in his
original posture, to all appearances unharm'
ed. But this was not the fact. Those near,
est to him fancied they saw a sudden spasm
US of pain, pass through his frame, and his
face certainl ly bhnched to death-like pallor
but Just where the ball had taken effect they
could not tell. At the second fire McCluskey
again anticipated his opponent, and, taking a
more deliberate aim, succeeded in breaking
his left arm. Anderson uttered sharp cry
and sunk on one knee, but, quickly recover
ing himself, returned the fire, and this time
with horrible effect. The ball, passing through
McCluskey's mouth, carried away with it sew,
eral of the clenched teeth and portion OF
the tongue, finally lodging in the base of the
SKULL McCluskey staggered forward wildly
few steps and made desperate efforts to
steady himself The blood poured in torrents
from the wound and stained his hunting shirt
and dripped from the muzzle of his pistol
but with heroic courage he continued to ad.
vance, splitting out mouthfulls of blood and
teeth at every step. During the interval thus
gained Anderson, who in his crippled state
had every reason to shun hand to hand en-.
counter had not been idle, but fired another
well-aimed shot, which broke McCluskey's
left shoulder Asif this was not enough, he
sent still another ball after him, which, strik'
ing him in the pit of the stomach, caused him
to fall forward heavily on his face. McClus'
key was now mortally wounded and moment
arily growing weaker from loss of blood
Tearing open his shirt in his agony, crimson
spot in his left side indicated the place where
Anderson's first shot had taken effect. He
still, however, retained his grasp Of his pistol,
and, by an effort superhuman in its GOODNESS
and deiberation, fired at his antagonist his
third shot. The latter had been closely watch
ing for this, and endeavored to save himself
by suddenly dropping to the ground. Too
late, however, McCluskeys finger was already
on the trigger and his eye along the sights,
and when his adversary's body reached the
earth it was heavier by Colts pistol ball.
A scream of pain followed and the spectators
saw the figure of man clutching wildly with
his hands at the grass and writhing and twist
ing in horrible contortions The bullet had
struck him full in the abdomen and, like his
antagonist, Anderson was now fast dying
man. At this juncture it seemed as if the
crowd would interfere, but Harding sternly
bade them keep back and leave the men to
settle the matter in their own way. AS none
cared to dispute with the gigantic hunter, the
mandate was obeyed, though universal ex-
preston of horror ran through the spectators,
a number of whom were the engineers and
attaches of our own party. Still, horrible as
was the scene, no one thought of leaving the
spot. An irresistible fascination to see it out
bound one and all alike to the blood-stained
locality. But the finale was at hand-the
curtain almost ready to drop.


McCluskey, summoning, by supreme ef-
fort, his remaining strength, drew his knife
and began to crawl feebly in the direction of
his antagonist. The latter, who had raised
himself to sitting posture, saw the move
ment and prepared to meet it. Both had
dropped their revolvers, leaving to the cold
steel the completion of the work.


By this time it had grown quite dark, and
to distinguish the movements of the combat
ants required the closest attention. Anderson
was clearly unable to move any portion of his
body save his right arm. With this he raised
his knife aloft, and as McCluskey crawled up
to within reach, dealt him terrible blow in
the neck, cutting muscles and tendons and
veins, and half severing the head from the
body. But the effort was too much for him,
and, leaving the weapon sticking in the
wound he pitched heavily forward on his face.
Every one supposed that this blow would
have instantly killed McCluskey, but, strange
to say, it did not, for so great was his vitality
that before falling he twice plunged his own
knife into the body of Anderson. The tale
is soon told. McCluskey lived minute
longer than his antagonist. The dead bodies,
firmly locked in each others embrace, were
taken to the house of Harding and laid out,
side by side, on the gaming table. A GRIM
son trail marked the path Of those who car
ried them in doors, and pools of blood indi-
Gated the scene of the late conflict


There was no gaming that night. The hunt
ers and Indians appeared to find excitement
enough in talking over the events of the day
without having to resort to their usual pastime.
About II o'clock the moon rose and the DO.
dies were taken out for burial. There were
no funeral ceremonies, but Job Harding re-
marked as the mufied forms were lowered in
to the grave "There 90 two as brave men as
ever lived" They were buried deep to keep
the wolves and coyotes from digging them up,
and the earth was heaped up in little mound
to mark where they slept. And then, with
the night wind whispering soft requiem over
the dead mems graves, and the moon shining
sadly from her distant sphere in the upper
ether, the crowd slowly dispersed and each one
sought his couch.


THE SECRET OF YANKEE PROSPERITY.


Under this head the veteran editor of the
Mobile Register, Hon. John Forsyth, gives
some of his impressions of New England, and
the causes Of its prosperity. There is food for
thought in his remarks, but we opine that he
has not fully revealed the "secret." A cold eli
mate and rugged soil have developed in the
people habits of selfreliance, industry, thrift
and economy, to which the inhabitants of our
more genial region are strangers. Their man.
ufctories and their machine worked farms,
are the natural out-growth of these habits,
and of the close, calculating inquisitive dis
positions which generally accompanies them.
If we are to initiate them in their methods Of