This was always one of my favorites by Bierce because of the sheer hilarity of having a knife fight in the dark to... well, to do anything other than accidentally stab yourself, really. Seems like something Lord Byron would invent. Hope you're having a great time in Wales!
Ireland too, it rains 🌧 every single day even in summer you get one shower! Now I live in London but my memories of childhood in New York was of such extreme weather that it’s unbearable once you’ve had a taste of the weather over here! I’ll never complain of rain again after the last time I went there to visit family! Seriously! And indoors the air conditioning is freezing 🥶 lol
Listening now - I enjoyed Bierce's little nod to Shakespeare in the early line about a giant's strength, there's sometimes a real economy of expression in referencing other works :)
I enjoyed this one very much. Bierce leaves a breadcrumb trail of hints that become glaring in hindsight. Why did Mounton return? Perhaps because of the court action taken by Brewer on the property. Perhaps Mounton hoped to reclaim the property either for monetary gain or concealment of his crimes.
Another great Bierce story, and one that would lend itself easily to placement in an old-school horror anthology film (the kind that gave you the creeps but also made you laugh). Thanks very much, and do enjoy your time in Wales.
So delighted to hear this - well done, Tony! Ambrose Bierce is one of the most interesting characters in American literature, and certainly one of my favs. I could listen to you read story after story of his.
I absolutely adore tony walker, especially stories written by him, are some of the best he narrates.,This was first of all stories shared that I was completely underwhelmed and disappointed by…seemed ridiculous banal ending
I thoroughly enjoyed the twists in this one. Mind you, the way they were talking about women they should have all been locked in the house! Thank you for making me aware of this very talented author. Hope you're enjoying the camping in God's country.
I understood the youngmen's banter to be a deliberate setup of Mounton. At the story's end, the author notes that King recognised Mounton and informed the others of his presence.
Love it! Also, regarding your commentary on doing that range of accents . . . Have you seen the film "The Trip"? Your commentary reminded me of these exchanges between friends in that film.
Thank you for reading an Ambrose Bierce I haven't read myself---enjoyed it thoroughly. But as for Ambrose coming back and "saving" us, LOL!!! Have you ever read his 'Devil's Dictionary'? Probably his most famous work? A more literate and highly cynical epistle of drollery there is not! Unless his soul has done some major transformative work towards kindness and altruism, we'd best not look to good old Bierce for saving.
Really creepy story. M. certainly deserved getting scared to death. Serves him right! Thank you, Tony, for your usual masterful word-images narration and interesting and amusing commentary.
I actually have a 2-player board game called "Duel in the Dark", although it has absolutely nothing to do with a knife fight (it's about nighttime bombing over Germany in WW2).
@@ClassicGhost I have another suggestion, 'The Cat Jumps' by Margaret Bowen. Read to just get the overview of the story, then read it again to pick up on her humor, and a nice little bit of alliteration.
I believe shirts are thrown aside in a fight because they reduce mobility and, in the cinema, it shows off sweaty muscles, which look better than a ripped shirt. In the story, I think Bierce does it so that the onlooker who sees the wagon and describes it, allows us to realize it is someone from the fight.
@@ClassicGhost that's funny..it's famous because a doctor made a knife for his brother..one night his brother basically got into a bar fight..the fight carried over to a sandbar in south eastern texas where jim bowie used the knife hus brother the doctor had given him to basically cut a man in half with one blow I think it's actually called the sandbar massacre Bowie knives were subsequently outlawed and killing a man with one carried a harsher sentence than shooting a man
I love the newspapers description of the man as 'grossly addicted to evil associations'
This was always one of my favorites by Bierce because of the sheer hilarity of having a knife fight in the dark to... well, to do anything other than accidentally stab yourself, really. Seems like something Lord Byron would invent. Hope you're having a great time in Wales!
Very good point. A knife fight in the dark!
As a Welsh person I can confirm that it's always raining 🤣
Funnily enough when I was there a couple of weeks ago it was sunny! (sometimes)
Me too! 🤣
Ireland too, it rains 🌧 every single day even in summer you get one shower! Now I live in London but my memories of childhood in New York was of such extreme weather that it’s unbearable once you’ve had a taste of the weather over here! I’ll never complain of rain again after the last time I went there to visit family! Seriously! And indoors the air conditioning is freezing 🥶 lol
I used to have a book of Scary Stories and this one creeped me out the most. Excellent voice and accent for this genre. Subscribed!
Welcome aboard!
Listening now - I enjoyed Bierce's little nod to Shakespeare in the early line about a giant's strength, there's sometimes a real economy of expression in referencing other works :)
Have a great time camping in Wales Tony! Hope you have excellent weather too. Namaste Holly Golightly
Thank you for the superb storytelling!
Wow! This title grabbed my *instant* attention
Wonderful reading as always.
Keep the stories coming!
Beautifully written!
I enjoyed this one very much. Bierce leaves a breadcrumb trail of hints that become glaring in hindsight. Why did Mounton return? Perhaps because of the court action taken by Brewer on the property. Perhaps Mounton hoped to reclaim the property either for monetary gain or concealment of his crimes.
Another great Bierce story, and one that would lend itself easily to placement in an old-school horror anthology film (the kind that gave you the creeps but also made you laugh). Thanks very much, and do enjoy your time in Wales.
So delighted to hear this - well done, Tony! Ambrose Bierce is one of the most interesting characters in American literature, and certainly one of my favs. I could listen to you read story after story of his.
+DeWayne Hayes it was you partly that led to me reading this one
Great reading! I've always had a soft spot for Mr Bierce 👍
I absolutely adore tony walker, especially stories written by him, are some of the best he narrates.,This was first of all stories shared that I was completely underwhelmed and disappointed by…seemed ridiculous banal ending
Bierce is always a winner!!
I thoroughly enjoyed the twists in this one. Mind you, the way they were talking about women they should have all been locked in the house! Thank you for making me aware of this very talented author. Hope you're enjoying the camping in God's country.
I understood the youngmen's banter to be a deliberate setup of Mounton. At the story's end, the author notes that King recognised Mounton and informed the others of his presence.
@@soundsilence2604 Yes I realise that, but it still doesn't sit right with me.
Love it! Also, regarding your commentary on doing that range of accents . . . Have you seen the film "The Trip"? Your commentary reminded me of these exchanges between friends in that film.
Thank you for reading an Ambrose Bierce I haven't read myself---enjoyed it thoroughly. But as for Ambrose coming back and "saving" us, LOL!!! Have you ever read his 'Devil's Dictionary'? Probably his most famous work? A more literate and highly cynical epistle of drollery there is not! Unless his soul has done some major transformative work towards kindness and altruism, we'd best not look to good old Bierce for saving.
Really creepy story. M. certainly deserved getting scared to death. Serves him right! Thank you, Tony, for your usual masterful word-images narration and interesting and amusing commentary.
I actually have a 2-player board game called "Duel in the Dark", although it has absolutely nothing to do with a knife fight (it's about nighttime bombing over Germany in WW2).
I think I suggested this to you, but my memory isn't a steel trap anymore...
You did. I think I do reference you in the notes making a lame joke about whether 23Split23 is your real name- which it may be
@@ClassicGhost it definitely has a meaning, but it's not my name.
@@ClassicGhost I have another suggestion, 'The Cat Jumps' by Margaret Bowen. Read to just get the overview of the story, then read it again to pick up on her humor, and a nice little bit of alliteration.
It's pronounced "boo-ee" knife. Otherwise, great tale!
Ive only ever heard anyone say bo-wee.
Actually Boo-ee represents the Gaelic ‘buidhe’ from which it comes meaning a yellow haired person
I believe shirts are thrown aside in a fight because they reduce mobility and, in the cinema, it shows off sweaty muscles, which look better than a ripped shirt. In the story, I think Bierce does it so that the onlooker who sees the wagon and describes it, allows us to realize it is someone from the fight.
It's boo-wee. Jim Bowie fought at the Alamo. The knife is named after him. Also there is a small town in SE Arizona called Bowie.
bowe ee knife..not bow wow..think english long bow
Isn't it famous because David Bowie used it while recording Ziggy Stardust?
@@ClassicGhost that's funny..it's famous because a doctor made a knife for his brother..one night his brother basically got into a bar fight..the fight carried over to a sandbar in south eastern texas where jim bowie used the knife hus brother the doctor had given him to basically cut a man in half with one blow
I think it's actually called the sandbar massacre
Bowie knives were subsequently outlawed and killing a man with one carried a harsher sentence than shooting a man