THE STORY-TELLER. The Awful Duel on Ulund.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 80, 1 October 1904, Page 10

THE STORY-TELLER. The Awful Duel on Ulund.

It was a fearful affair, and took placein New Britain in 1882, when part of the "bust-up" French expedition of Mon•Bieur Charles dv Breiul, Marquis dv Ray, was under the protection of Tom Farrell, the English trade* The contingent numbered about two hundred of the mosf; useless creature tba+, ever woro shoeleather; the men were all loafers and (he women all "ladies." When Tom F— ":I1 went to their asr wstance in rc '~ "riband, and rescued them from the o'-if^tre they had named Nouvelle France, he also took possession «f their storeship — a big barque named after the Marquis— aiid their" crazy old itteamer the Genii. - Mr. Thomas Tamil was an Irish genllernan of very few words. "Look here, you fellows," he said, •Til take two hundr"d of you ovot to mj station and let yo-j. stay there until 1 .can send you to SySey — or Hades. But you'll have to live on board the steamer, *nd if you try ot^any monkfy ' tricks on me, I and my niggers will murder the lot of you. He brought them over in tne barque «nd steamer, then anchored both vessels , closu in to his ho,u"«, turned everyone out of the barque ('vhich contained all the provisions and liqnor) into the steamer, and then made the engineer of the latter unship the "rank shalt and take ■it on shore, wher' Farrell hid it in the bush. The Frenchmen were all well 'armed, but they did not protest — they only embraced Thomas, and wept down , his back, and cailnd him their gallant saviour — they were in deadly fear he - might back out of his promise to send them to Australia. And then, besides that, Tom's sixty-five jet-black, shavenheaded, stark miked, betel-chewing savage Bougainville Island cannibals whom he employed ."> labourers made them thudder to look at. Tom didn't tr^'t them badly, though' ' he reviled and blasphemed at them freely -and openly to fcheir faces. He. pitied the Women, bad as they were — for many of ■ them were ill with fever. From his overseer, who spoke French, ho learned 'iff the insulting words in fhe /language that that gentleman knew, and the man--Ber-irr-which-he--fired them 'out in ar unbroken volume at- the contingent as J Often as possible was marvellous. *' The European, society at Farrell's sta"tion a,t,-Mioko (Duke of York Island) ' comprised: himself, "his overseer, a boatguilder named Charlie Young, and Tom HDenison, supercargo of Farrell's schooner fiea-Rip. The two latter were both down •I'with fever, and lived together in a hut "Jsa. the whajf, il .A6.^times some of the -Frenchmen would come to see them, and a-way they became friends — especially' with two of them — a fat, podgy, bald- - headed little -ex-captain of Artillery named Serrey, and a long thin doctor Darned Lebourg. Serrey — so he saidhad to give, up a glorious career in the %Arary by calling out and killing a Rtts;*ian prince, who had interfered in a lady's •" the doctor had left France in % hurry for some reason which he had iof^otten. '" But they were both brave men—Heav*ns, how brave 1 J- At four o'clock one afternoon, as the !two sick men were lying down under a shady mango-tree near the wharf, inhaling the cool sea-breeze, they saw M. le TCapitaine ' Serrey coming towards them .;s3 fast as his little lega would carry aim. Puffing and panting, he-embraced "them,, .and ,,.then., placing his. hand on ■jPenison's arm, said solemnly ia broken E«gliirif-(foi>"" Denison knew -but - little French). :ri- _ "M'skair, le Docteur Lebourg no good. Ah! he is scelerat. To-morrow I have kill him dead in ze duel. And you, my .friend, you will me support, ah?" and he eyed Denison eagerly, ' "What is it all about?" asked Denieon. Serrey struck his chest melodramaticAlly as he Mt down between the Englishmen, and a tear came into his manly eye. "Ah! Marie, my Marie, she love hhnl Ah! he is ze hog-pig and ze beast i" "Oh," it's Mane Pitaiir, is it?" said Denison, who knew the young lady very well by sight, and had heard much about her kaleidoscopic affections, she having during six months transferred them from Rabardy, tiie commander of the Genii, to the mate of the storeship, who was a full-blooded Aaores nigger, then to the Chinese engineer of the steamer, the Genoese steward, then to Serrey, and cow finally to the long doctor. Now, although Denison liked the doctor, he waa eager to oee a French duel; but he could not act as friend to either man, for he was too weak to walk more than a dozen yards. This he explained to Serrey, but suggested that perhaps Charlie Yo,ung , who was much stronger, Would act." -Mr. Young was quite agreeable, but ■asked how much he would get for the job. "What does he say?" asked Serrey in French. "Wants to know how much you will pay him." "iton Dieu I It is l'affaire d'honneur!" and his eyes protruded in astonishment. Then he begged Young to believe in his everlasting gratitude — if he would become his second. So Denison pleaded with Young to accept the honour. "Not under two quid," replied thebuilder of boats, "and cash on the nail in advance. He can't expect me to do it for less — 'specially when I'm ill an' mifferin'." - Serrey could not grasp the awful idea of any man wanting to be paid for such ft glorious privilege ; but then, he thought, "These English, 'money is their god!" Bo off he went to seek someone else. Hall an hour later Doctor Lebourg appeared, soliciting the same favour as his rival, whom he stigmatised as a drunken thief, an abnormal liar, and a suspected assassin. Young renewed his offer for .£2 ; or, if the doctor "hadn't got the Btuff," he would accept his silver Geneva Watch instead. But the doctor said he was a poor man, and' his watch was the only thing of value he possessed. T,hen he too went off to look for someone else possessing a keener sense of dignity. Why both he and Serrey ■wanted Englishmen as seconds Denison could not understand ; he afterwards learned that they gnd their friends w«re anxious to let that sauvage Ivlandais Tom Farrell see how Frenchmen acted in a case of wounded honbur. However, the seconds were found at last— an* ex-priest named Chateau and an absconded' grocer from 'Nantes named Desforgefi— and -the duel was fixed to come off at eight a.m ,on the following morning '(New Year's) ' Day) at a little island ifl the harbour' called Utuan. Farrell agreed -to lend them four boats to convey all the members of the expedition thither— it was to be, in a sense, a public duel. At seven in the morning the combatants and their friends embarked, and the boats were about to push off when Black Sam, Farrell's Maori half-caste «nb-overseer, appeared with four natives, carrying picks- and shovels, and took their places in one of the boats. Black Sam was a herculean, creaUure, an ex-pugilist, and an ' exceedingly quarrelsome man drunk •or .sober. .He was dressed in the' usual half-caste style —dungaree pants, with a gaily coloured print shirt, the lower portion of which flowed gracetully down outside the nether garments, a Panama bat. and bare feet "TOiat ara these for?" enquired a

French gentleman in English of Sam, pointing to the implements. "To dig the graves with," replied Sam surlily ; "the boss says he won't have anyone buried near the station, 'cos our pigs always root up anything wot's buried. And, wot's more, your crowd will have to pay mo three pound ten if I have' to dig two graves j if there's only one to bo dug it'it be only thirtyfive bob for me and a pound of terbacker each for the three niggers. P.ush off there!" The Frenchman translated this to the company, who shuddered, and Lebourg and Serrey pressed the hands of those nearest them. Landing on Utuan, the heroes of the j day and their friends walked to the spot chosen, a grassy sward, thickly interspersed f : tfi coconut trees. "Is this the place?" asked Sam, looking ebout him. . "Oai, m'sieur." "All right; then where do you want 'em buried? I s'pose I can start one grave right away. Look, that's a good phce _over there under that breadfruit tree,""and then, without waiting to hear — hether they approved of the spot or not, he lifted his foot, kicked the nearest native, and toid them to begin to dig. A chill of horror fell upon the asSoinbly as they saw the to.ur natives (each of whom was chewing betel-nut and expectorating scarlet juice in v manner horribly suggestiw of forthcoming gore) plunge their spades into the salt ground and shovel out *.he soil vigor- j ously. Then Black San leaned against a coconut-tree, lit his pipe, and watphed j the duelling-ground being measured off, j whilst the surgeon of the Ueuil, a young man with melancholy blu eyes and a thick, red underiip and scanty beard, opened his ciuse of instruments and began the usual preparations. This intercsied Sam deeply, and, pointing to the largest surgical knife in the case, he asked the surgeon if he would sell it. Sawbones he.d up his hands imploringly, shook his head, and begged him to be silent. ' "Taisez vous, m'sieur; taisez vous, s'il vous plait." "Give yer five bob, see," and Sam held up one hand and spread out his dirty fingers, and then retiied in disgust when thf Frenchman shook his head vehemently. Then he turned his attention to the dueilists «nd watohed the concluding preparations, which were conducted in silence, broken only and accentuated by the horrid thump, thump of the gravediggers' spaijs — and the accompanying grunts of the toiling savages as they struck the implements into ; the coil. It was ghastly and terrifying in the extreme, and every face was pale — except those of Black Sain and the naked burial party.; At last everything was ready, and Serrev and his opponent stod facing each othei, ptoiol in. Land — and a good twenty yf.rus apart. To tbo right vide Uie spectators, and every eye was fixed, and every ear was open, when a feariu* English oath rang out as Black Sam hurled a stone at the gravediggers, who had ftopped to look at what was going on. "What yer lookin' at, yer man-eatin-lot o' black swine I Go on ciiggin' or I'll boot yer bioomin' souls outer yer hides," The interruption, ill-timed as it was, l«t the assembly breathe a sigh of relief, and whilst Sam's niggers went on digging vigorously, and the seconds again consulted, the combatants managed to put a few more yards between thmselves unobserved. Once more everything was in readiness, and they were asked if they were ready. In voices .broken with emotion they replied' they were One, two dread seconds, then the word was given, and' both pistols rang out simultaneously, and the horrified spectators saw both men stagger, and Captain Serrey, letting his pistol fall frdm his hand, fell prone jupon his face, and lay still, his bald head, fronu which urn an ensanguined stream, resting quietly upon his left arm. Lebaurg was received in the arms of his second, who laid him gently on the ground. "Place, messieurs, place !" screamed the surgeon to the, crowd that had gathered round his brother professional; "faites place. Considerez ma position — il faut que je soigne les deux honimes morts ou mourants !" The sympathisers of Dr. Lebourg fell back, and then a cry of joy escaped them, when after a rapid examination, the surgeon sprang to his feet. "Fainted — shock to the system — throw water in his face, Monsieur Desforges" j then he sped to where the gallant Serrey lay, surrounded by his friends, who were all weeping over the fallen man. Kneeling down, the young surgeon, with some assistance, turned the corpse over on its back, thrust his hand insidfc che thin shirt, and placed it over th« heart. "He lives, messieurs! Retire, I beg you} a little distance— all but you, M. YiQacroix and you, M. Duval." Then he rapidly passed his fingers to and fro over the bald, ensanguined head, feeling for the bullet-hole. "Water! water I" he cried. The dying man opened his eyes and ', moaned. "Some brandy," he murmured. • Both were quickly forthcoming, and the orandy given first. "Shall I live, M. Houelle?" he asked. "Yes, yes, my friend. Now close your eyes while I discover the wound." Taking a can of water, the surgeon poured it in a steady stream over Serrey's head and washed away the blood. Then an exclamation of pleased astonishment burst from him. "Messieurs, it is marvellous. Our dear friend has had a truly wonderful escape ! The bullet struck him on the top of the head, and ploughed its way over the top of the skull without injuring it." Serrey at once revived, and demanded some more brandy, which was promptly given him, and loud "Vivas !' put liffe into his opponent, who was now sitting up, receiving congratulations on his bravery. He begged to be taken to Seney, to embrace him. "Patience, M. le Medicin," said someone; "the captain desires to embrace you, but his head is now being dressed by M. Houelle. Mon Dieu, m'sieu, you are terrible^ — you have shot off the top of his head; but he will recover." The long man was about to declare vehemently that he had fired at least thirty metres over his opponent's headas was actually the cas.e — but a feeling of combined vanity and prudence restrained him. Why should he not retain the reputation of being a deadly shot? Then took place an affectionate reconciliation. He was led to M. le Capitaine, who was seated against a tree with his head neatly covered with strips of antiseptic plaster. They embraced again and again, and the spectators shed tears as they withdrew a little apart. "My beloved friend," whispered the doctor, "I swear to you I fired twenty metres at least over thy poor head, as was arranged." "And I over thine. But something hit me. Perhaps you fired much lower than you thought in your agitation, and the bullet struck me. But, silence — our friends approach!" A large hamper of provisions and wirte had been brought, and very soon the two heroes were seated side by side surrounded by their admiring friends. Many speeches were made, and everyone proceeded to get joyously drunk, when Black Sam strolled up and asked them if there was any brandy 'eft. They gave him a tumblerful, neat. He drank it slowly and lovingly, and then, as he set down the glass, ho caught sight of three young green coconuts, 'each weighing about three pounds or so, lying on the grass a few feet away. They were all more or less blood-stained. He picked one up. "I'd like to keep it as a sorb o* keep-

sake of the fust jewel I ever sore," he 1 said to the English-speaking Frenchman. They applauded, and gave him some morii brandy. Then his manner changed and he came to business. "What about paying for the grave he had had dug?" he asked. "Oh, it was no use of 'em saying it wasn't wanted. That wasn't his fault, and ho wasn't going to be bilked by anybody. Were they going to ante-up or not?" "Monsieur Sam, you are rude." "Am I? Well, look there," and he pointed to where the four boats, as well as his own, were waiting— some hundreds of yards from the shore. "There's all the boats, and if you don't give me my tjirty-five bob I'm going to take 'em Wk with me and leave you here all night. An' the miskeeters will eat yer alive afore daylight, and the bush is chock full o' pizen snakes." The threatening aspect of the brutal Farrell's barbarian minion had its effect, apart from the dread of spendl-ig a night on an island where the r-osqui^es were simply ravenous and ccpeiivs in profusion. A hurried consultation was held. Result, seven francs fifty — all the coin that could be raised. Black Sam looked at it and snorted contemptuously. Then the doctor arose — grand, noble, magnificent. "Will this satisfy you, my friend?" and he held out his much-valued watch. Sam took' it suspiciously. "Does it go?" "It is an excellent watch, my friend, and cost one hundred and sixty francs in Paris." "Very well ; I —ant a ticker. Now gimme another nip, an' I'll call for the boats." ''Yer see, boss," said Sam to Farrell and Denison an hoar l»te~ "the little cove was a-standin' right vneW a coconut tree 'bout seventy feet 'igh, and loaded — ith nuts, big an' little, an' old an 1 young. I watched the long cove raise air inn to fire, and saw his pistol was pointing 1 a long way over the other chap's head — right at the bunches o' coconuts, in fact — and the next second I saw two or three nuts like this one fall right atop of his bald head. Down he went as if a cannon ball had fallen out o' the blnomin' sky." The next week was a time of unalloyed bliss to the gallant capitaine, for not only had th 6 weeping Mark begged his forgiveness, but on the day following the duel a German warship entered the harbour, and Serrey had the delight of taking off his bat and bowing at least fifty times a day to the officers during their stay and revealing the wounds received on the field of honour.— Louis Becke, in the Westminster Budget.