A REMARKABLE DUEL AND HOW IT ENDED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVIII, Issue 5997, 5 February 1881, Page 7

A REMARKABLE DUEL AND HOW IT ENDED.

Ax old East Indian officer, in-giving some reminiscences in Chambers' Journal, tells this story : Tainton's regiment was stationed at the Straits (Singapore, Malacca and Penang), bnt he was officiating as BrigadeMajor while the real incumbent was absent on furlough at the Cape. He was known to be an extraordinary shot with the gun, rifle and pellet-bow. Nothing could raffle him outwardly; but I pity the man who wilfully insulted him, for Tainton with a smile would think no more of throwing him out of the window than he would of kicking a cat downstairs. He was a lamb in appearance, but a very lion in strength and courage, and neither drank, gambled or quarrelled: but in those duelling days even he could not at times avoid the "wager of battle." D , a foolishly irate and somewhat tipsy I man, moreover only a late arrival, took umbrage at some remarks of a perfectly inoffensive nature made by Tainton, and the usual challenge followed. There is a limit to the greatest forbearance, and my gallant friend was tired of being made a target of, so consented to go out, provided his terms were acceded to, and these were that they j were to be placed face to face at fifteen yards or less, he to be armed with his pellet-bow alone and his adversary to load his own weapon ; and that the moment the word "Load!" was given each party was to do with his weapon what he ' chose. The seconds knew Tainton well, and they anticipated some fun from the novel duel; so, while consenting to the terms, they made them known all over the station. The day arrived. Tainton's adversary strongly protested against lighting such a. strange duel; but he was told lie had no choice, as the right of choosing weapous lay with the challenged. So D , more irate than ever, went to the place of meeting, vowing he would drive a hole through his man for making such a fool of him. The whole plain was crowded with spectators. The two stood face to face. Tainton with his pockets full of hardened pellets, and his bow ; D with an ordinary pistol. The word "Load !" being given, D lifted his powder flask; when rap, rap, came two pellets on his I knuckles and lie dropped his pistol and flask as if they had been red hot. The bystanders screamed with laughter. D got more savage, and hastily picking up his pistol and flask, tried to load ; but a similar visitation as before made him drop them again, whilst another rap, rap, made him turn his back on his foe. The seconds now iuterferod and declared the duel at an end, because the conditions had been violated by D , who was led oil the ground foaming with rage. But a little reflection and a little inquiry into the antecedents and character of the an tagonist ho had to deal with convinced him of the folly of quarrelling with such a man, and a party was got up at mess, where the two met and shook hands. Tainton's skill with the Indian pellet-bow was something marvellous. He had been known, for a wager, with five pellets to knock over three snipe; and the Sepoy and native officers of his regiment not only loved him, but believed him to be possessed of supernatural powers, and were ever fond of relating the most improbable stories about him, and nothing would convince them to the contrary. One story was, that with a hard pellet he could drill a hole in an earthenware water-pot, and with a soft one fill it up again