BROADSWORD FIGHT WITH A SWORDFISH. 



My skill with the sword once saved my life, said Mr. L. S. Allen, of the 

 B. & O. R. R. It happened in this way. Soon after graduating with 

 honoi-s at West Point, I was taking a cruise at sea, and frequently whded 

 away mv time by practicing the broadsword exercise with one of the 

 officers on the vessel, who was quite an expert in the art. We wei-e prac- 

 ticing one day, when by an unlucky stumble, I fell overboard, still retain- 

 ing the swoi'd in my hand. Upon rising to the surface the first thing that 

 met my gaze was a swordfish not ten feet away, making directly at me. 

 My presence of mind did not desert me, for although I was entirely out of 

 my element and the swordfish had the advantage in this respect, I realized 

 that coolness might save my life. 



The fight was, beyond doubt, the most peculiar one ever fought with 

 swords. My adversary was no novice in the science, and the vigor of his 

 direct thrusts was something terrific. I escaped injury as much by my 

 agility as by my skill in warding off his attacks. After receiving a flesh 

 w^ound and in return gouging out an eye of my antagonist, the battle 

 became fast and furious. At last I succeeded in blinding the remaining eye 

 of m}'^ enemy, and then I had him at my mercy. With one fierce stroke I 

 disarmed him, or in other words severed the sword from his vicious look- 

 ing head, and catching it as it was sinking, threw it on board the ship. 



My'victory seemed to give me new strength and courage. Seizing 

 the now defenseless swordfish by one of his fins I swam easily to the side of 

 the ship, and when a rope was lowered drew him up with me to the deck. 

 I still possess his sword as a relic, and at the time was warmly congratu- 

 lated for my combined skill and strength. The swordfish was weighed 

 soon after I carried him on deck and was found to tip the beam at two 

 thousand pounds. 



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