DUELS IN FICTION

Evening Star, Issue 18809, 6 December 1924, Page 3

DUELS IN FICTION

THRILLING ENCOUNTERS IN FAMOUS KOVELS. There are few tbrills in fiction quite Hie equal of a ■well-managed duel. 1 here is the thrilling encounter between Jhe Master and Mr Henry in .Stevenson's "I be Master of Ballantrao.’ “A windless stricture of frost, binds Hie air” when “ in the midst of frosted trees” between two candles the brothers take up their positions. . . , Mr Henry ‘‘crowded upon his lne_v.il,. a contained and growing finy. Xoai.. and noovor he ernut upon the man ti l of a sudden the Master stepped back wuh a, little sobbing oath.”' For otiui lime the battle wages, but at length the Master feeling himself beaten, attempts a Join Mrokto Mr Henrv saves himself by leaping aside, and tlm_Master, lunging in the air, stumbles to his knee. _ Before lie can move the other's sword is through his body. It writhes for a moment “ hkc a trodden worm.” and then is stih. '■jod forgive ua, Mr Henry,” said 1, “he is dead !” WITH KNIVES IN THE HARK. A different kind of dud is recorded by Ambrose Bierce in his story ‘The Middle Toe of the Right Foot.’ The scene is a room in a deserted country house, reputed to l>o haunted. The two men arc to (ig.it with knives in the dark! “Von will not move until you hear the dosing ol the outer door,” says the “master ot ceremonies.” A description of the actual duel, however, Bierce denies us : , A sound of trampling ensued, tne closing of the inner door, and final.y t.ie outer one closed with a concussion which shook the entire building. A few minutes later a belated tarrnei s boy met a wagon which was being driven furiously towards the town. . • •_ Scaramouche has several duels m the course of his adventurous cnreer, and so also does Gil dc Berault in Stanley V\cyman’s ‘ Under the Red Robe/ The letter s first encounter in the book is one of the best. An Englisman accuses He Berault ot using marked cards ; “ There is a little space behind the church of St. Jacques, M. I’Etranger, I said. . . . Doubtless you will accompany me thither?” “With pleasure,” he blurted out, to the devil of you like!” He Berault plays with his opponent for a while, watching the sweat gather on his brow. De Berault is an expert, and takes his lime. The other fights fiercely. Then He Berault slips, but the other holds off. Still the fight goes on. until suddenly, “in a heat of affected anger, I thrust strongly over his guard, which had become weak, and ran him through the chest,” The ensuing adventures of De Berault are the outcome of this duel.—‘ John o’ London’s Weekly.’