FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   337   338   339   340   341   342   343   344   345   346   347   348   349   350   351   352   353   354   355   356   357   358   359   360   361  
362   363   364   365   366   367   368   369   370   371   372   373   374   375   376   377   378   379   380   381   382   383   384   385   386   >>   >|  
prog!" "Let him show that he can be as dexterous with the broadsword as with a carving-knife," said I, with a tremendous effort. "Egad! I'll tell him that," cried Seth, jumping up, and hastening across the garden. I had not long to wait for the effect of the speech. Scarcely had Chiseller uttered a few words than the whole party arose, and such a volley of "Maledicion!" and "Caramba!" and other like terms I never heard before or since. "I knew that would make 'em blaze up," said he; "they're all ready now,--follow me." I obeyed, and walked after him into a little paddock, which, from the marks of feet and other signs, seemed to be a spot not chosen for the first time for such an amusement. The others entered by an opposite gate, and, taking off their cloaks, folded them carefully and laid them on the benches. They were armed to the very teeth, and really did look amazingly like the troop of brigands Drury Lane would produce in a new melodrama. One of the party advanced towards Seth to arrange preliminaries, while the rest lighted their cigars and began smoking,--an example I deemed it wise to imitate; at least, it looked cool. As I sat, affecting to admire the landscape, and totally careless of what was going on behind me, I overheard Seth in a warm altercation on the subject of my sabre, which the villano's friend insisted was at least eight or nine inches too long. Seth, however, was equally obstinate in asserting that I had always used it, had fought repeated duels with it; and if we could not call the principals as witnesses, it was for certain cogent reasons that need not be mentioned. How I chuckled at this bit of boastfulness! how I prayed that it might terrify the enemy! Nothing of the kind; the semi-savage stepped out into the circle, with his shirt-sleeve rolled up to the shoulder, displaying an arm whose muscular development was like knotted cordage. As if to give a foretaste of what he intended for me, he clove down the stout branch of an elm-tree with a single stroke and with the ease of a man slicing a cheese. Never did I think so meanly of a fandango as at that moment; never was I in a mood less lenient to female coquetry! "All's ready, Con, my hearty," whispered Seth, leaning over my shoulder; "here's the tool." If I had followed the instinct then strongest, I should have treated my "friend" Seth to the first of my maiden sword. But for him--But it was too late for regrets; and already the
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   337   338   339   340   341   342   343   344   345   346   347   348   349   350   351   352   353   354   355   356   357   358   359   360   361  
362   363   364   365   366   367   368   369   370   371   372   373   374   375   376   377   378   379   380   381   382   383   384   385   386   >>   >|  



Top keywords:

friend

 

shoulder

 

chuckled

 
Nothing
 

mentioned

 
savage
 

prayed

 

terrify

 

boastfulness

 
inches

equally

 

insisted

 

villano

 

overheard

 

altercation

 

subject

 

obstinate

 
asserting
 
principals
 
witnesses

cogent

 

stepped

 
fought
 

repeated

 

reasons

 

hearty

 

whispered

 
leaning
 

coquetry

 

female


fandango

 

meanly

 

moment

 

lenient

 

maiden

 

treated

 

regrets

 
instinct
 

strongest

 
muscular

development

 

knotted

 

cordage

 

displaying

 

circle

 

sleeve

 

rolled

 

foretaste

 

intended

 

stroke