Duelling in the West Indies [pp. 496-504]

DUELLING IN THE WEST I.INDIES.
This was the pitch arrived at by Beauvallon; and unknown to himself he assumed an overbearing and intolerant
air, which kept him employed in his
favorite work of shooting people selon
le regle.
In Basseterre, the capital of Guadaloupe, there is a beautiful promenade
known as the Course. It is lined on both
sides with wide-spreading, umbrageous
trees, and is supplied with benches for
saunterers, who crowd it on fine moonlight nights in that tropical region. On
one side of the Course is a large and
spacious stone building denominated
the Cirque; a club house for opulent
planters, merchants, and some of the
more distinguished French officers of
the army and navy. A young and accomplished captain of the Infanterie de
Za Ligne was one evening playing billiards at the Cirgque when Beauvallon
entered. He had dined and felt his
wine. His countenance wore a forbidding aspect, and his appearance soon
caused the visitors to thin out. Chafed
at this evident distaste to his society,
Beauvallon fixed his eyes on Captain
Duchampy, and passing behind him
struck his cue just as he was about to
make a shot. Duchampy believing that
his own awkwardness had struck the
but of his cue against Beauvallon, immediately turned and asked his pardon.
No recognition of the politeness was
vouchsafed, but when the officer again
attempted to make his stroke, his cue
was once more struck by Beauvallon.
"Is it you or I, sir, who is in fault?"
inquired Duchampy. "Just as you please,
sir; suit yourself," was the rejoinder,
accompanied with a farouche look.
Duchampy made no reply, but called
for a glass of wine, and having received
it, pitched the contents into Beauvallon's
face. The consternation was general
at this act of audacity, for the officer
was a general favorite, and all present
looked upon him as another sacrifice to
Beauvallon's insatiable thirst for blood
according to the acknowledged code.
A verbal challenge was soon given and
as soon accepted. Seconds were appointed, the time and place fixed, and
the weapons, pistols, nominated. They
were to fight at eight o'clock the next
morning. The terms being arranged,
Duchampy retired, but Beauvallon was
at once surrounded by his jackalls, who
seemed solicitous to offer their services.
" Gentlemen," said he, "do me the honor
to breakfast with me at ten to-morrow. I
will go out at eight, kill this mushroom
young fool, and then we shall return to
a ddjeuner i la fourchette."
At eight the next morning, a large
number of persons were congregated to
see Beauvallon "plant" his fourteenth
man. The principals, accompanied by
their seconds, appeared upon the ground
almost simultaneously. Duchampywas a
recent arrival in Guadaloupe, and up to
the time of his quarrel was totally ignorant of his adversary's powers in dueling; but there were not wanting friends
who sought to convince him that he had
rendered himself little better than a
foolish sacrifice to a noted homicide,
who had never suffered an antagonist to
leave the field alive. The appearance
and demeanor of the contestants were
notable. Duchampy was pale, preoccupied, and silent, but the beholder
could perceive a settled determination
in the young officer's eyes; while his
bearing was modest and unobtrusive.
Beauvallon talked freely and in a loud
voice while the preparations were being
made. His carriage was defiant and
haughty, while his whole demeanor
evinced a desire to intimidate, coupled
with undoubted confidence in his own
skill. The principals were stationed;
each received his weapon, and the party
who was to give the word, said, " Gentlemen, you must fire between the words
'fire' and'three'; there must be no
reserve of fire. The man who reserves
his fire after' three,' falls by my hand."
Then came the warning-" Are you
I 868.]
497