Take a pocket-handkerchief and tie the four corners together with a
piece of string. Hang it four or five feet from the ground, then put in
the apple so that it will rest exactly in the centre.
Aiming under the apple, give an upward cut of sufficient force to pass
through. If you make the slightest draw you will cut the handkerchief.
When apples cannot be got, you may use potatoes or thin-skinned turnips
for this and the preceding feat.
When performing these feats, take great care that no one is within reach
of your sword, and see that everything is properly placed and steady
before delivering your stroke.
Do not chop or hack, but make the cuts with neatness and freedom. Avoid
all parade, and always remember to grasp your sword so that the middle
knuckles are in a line with the edge of the sword. This rule is
imperative.
RULES OF
DUELLING WITH SABRES.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE
RULES OF DUELLING WITH SABRES,
TRANSLATED FROM “ESSAI SUR LE DUEL,”
BY THE
COMTE DE CHATEAUVILLARD.
CHAPTER VII.
DUEL WITH SABRES.
1st.—Each combatant must have two seconds for this sort of duel, and one
of the two must have a sabre. They must, if possible, get sabres with
curved blades for the two antagonists, as being less fatal.
2nd.—When arrived on the ground there must be no discussion between the
two combatants, their seconds being their plenipotentiaries.
3rd.—The seconds having agreed upon the choice of the ground the most
proper for the combat—level and equal for the two opponents—must mark
the two places, the distance being calculated as if the two opponents
were both on the longe and the points of the two sabres one foot apart.
4th.—The seconds, after having tossed for the places, take their
principals to the place given to each by chance.
5th.—Gloves with gauntlets are generally used for this duel, but the
seconds of the insulted party (if belonging to the class spoken of in
the 11th sec. of the 1st chap.) can oblige the combatants not to wear
them. Nevertheless, every one is entitled to wear an ordinary glove, or
a pocket-handkerchief round the hand, but the handkerchief must not hang
down.
6th.—If the insulted party (if belonging to the class spoken of in the
10th and 11th secs. of the 1st chap.) wishes to wear a glove with a
gauntlet, his seconds must offer a similar one to his opponent, and if
the latter refuses it, the insulted party may use his and the other wear
an ordinary glove or handkerchief.
7th.—When the combatants are placed, the seconds measure the blades,
which must be of equal length and similar shape. The choice of the
sabre, if similar ones are used, must be tossed for. If by carelessness
the sabres are not alike, the choice should still be tossed for; but if
the sabres are too disproportioned for such a combat it should certainly
be put off.
8th.—But, however, if the combatants belong to the same regiment they
can use their own sabres, but the sabres must be mounted the same.
9th.—The insulted party (if in the class of 11th sec., 1st chap.) can
use a sabre belonging to him, but he must offer a similar one to his
adversary, who can refuse it and then use his own; nevertheless, if the
difference should give a too great disadvantage to either one or the
other the seconds should postpone the duel, unless the seconds of both
parties present a pair of sabres unknown to the combatants. Then the
choice of the pair should belong to the insulted party, and the choice
of the sabre to the other.
10th.—The seconds, after having invited the combatants to take off their
coats and waistcoats, must go up to their principal’s opponent, who must
show his naked breast in order to prove that he wears nothing to protect
himself against the edge or point of the sabre blade. His refusal would
be equivalent to a refusal to fight.
11th.—When what is above described is finished, the seconds should toss
for which one of them is to explain the conventions of the duel to the
combatants, to whom the weapons are then given, with the recommendation
to wait until the signal is given to begin.
12th.—When the seconds are placed on both sides of the combatants, the
one designed gives the signal by the word—_Allez!_
13th.—If before the signal is given the combatants join blades together
it is equivalent to a signal, but it is blamable if only one of the two
does it.
14th.—When the signal is given the combatants can cut and thrust at one
another, advance, retire, stoop, turn round, vault, and do anything they
think profitable to them: such are the rules of the combat.
15th.—It is against the rules of this combat to strike your opponent
when he is disarmed or when he is on the ground, to take hold of his
arms or his body or to take hold of his weapon.
16th.—Disarmed means when the sabre has fallen out of the hand, or when
dropping the point has touched the ground.
17th.—When one of the combatants is wounded his seconds must stop the
combat until they think it proper that it should begin again.
18th.—If before there is any wound one of the seconds wishes to stop the
duel, he asks if he can do so to the opposing seconds by lifting up his
stick or sabre, and if an affirmative answer is given by the same
movement he suspends the duel.
19th.—The seconds can agree beforehand to stop the duel at the first
blood shed—humanity and the gravity of the case must guide them.
20th.—If one of the two combatants is killed or wounded against the
rules of the duel, the seconds must refer to the 20th and 21st art. of
the 4th chap.