Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-04

1in6reht direCGl0ne, ana were soon nope.
lessly ecattered in the darkness.
For all that, the fight WAS but be-
ginning. Dicks outlaws, although they
had the advantage Of tle surprise, were
still considerably outnumoered by the
men they had surrounded. The tide had
flowed, in the meanwhile; the beach was
narrowed to . strip; and on this wet
field, between the surf and the garden
wall, there began, in the darkness,
doubtful, furious, snd deadly contest.
The strangers were we'll armed; they
fell In silence upon their ASSISTANTS; and
the ARRAY became series of single com
bats. Dick, who had come frst in the
mellaY, was engaged by three; the first
he cut down at the first blow, but the
other two coming upon him, holly,
he was fain to give ground before
their onset. One Of these two
was huge fellow, almost q giant for
ststure, and armed with a two-handed
sword, which he branished like switch.
Against this opponent, with his reach Of
arm and the length and weight Of his
weapon, Dick and his bill were quite de-
fenseless; and had the other continued to
join vigorously in the attack, the lad must
cave Individually fallen. This second
man, however, less in stature ard slower
in his movements, paused for moment
to peer about him in the darkness, aud to
give ear to the sounds of the battle.
The gisnt still pursued his advantage,
and still Dick ned before him, spying for
his chance. Then the huge blade flashed
and descended, and the lad, leaping on
| one side and running in, slashed side
ways and upwards with his bill. a roar
Of agony responded, and, before the
wounded man could raise his formidable
weapon, Dick, twice repeating his blow,
had brought him to the ground.
The next moment he was engaged, upon
more equal terms, with his second pur-
suer. Here there was no great differ
ence in size, and though the man, fight
ing with sword snd dagger against bill,
and being wary and quick OF fence, had a
certain superiority of arms, Dick more
than made it up BY his greater sgility on
foot. Neither st first gained any obvious
advantage; but the older man was still
insensibly profiting oy the ardouc OF the
youager TO lead him where he would; and
presently Dick found that they had
crossed the whole width of the beach, and
were now fighting above the knees in the
spume and bus1ie of the breakers. Here
his own superior activity WAS rendered
useless; he found himself more or less at
the discretion of his foe; YET little, and
he hsd mis- back turned upon his own
men, and saw thst this adroit snd skill
full adversary was bent upon drawing him
farther and farther away.
Dick ground his teeth. He determined
to decide the combat instantly; and when
the wash OF the next wave had ebhed snd
left them dry, he rushed in, caught q
blov upon his bill, and leapsi right at
The throat of his opponent. The man
went down backwards, WITH Dick still
upon the top of him; and the next wave,
speedily succeeding to the last, buried
him below 4 rush Of water.
While he WAS still submerged, Dick
forced his dagger from his grasp, and
rose 20 his feet, victorious.
"Yield vel" he said. 81 give you
life"
"I yield me-" said tie other, getting to
his knees. eye fight, like young man,
ignorsntly and foolhardilJ; but, by the
array Of the saints, ye fight bravely!"
Dick turned to the beach. The combat
was still raging doubttully in the night;
over the hoarse roar of the breakers
steel clsnged upon steel, and cries OF psir
and shout OF battle resounded.
"Lead me to your captain, YOUTH" said
the conquered knight. "It 10 fl this
butcherv should cease"
SSH" replied Dick, $50 far IS these
brave fellows have captain, the poor
gentleman who here addresses you Is
he"
"Call Of your dogs, then, and 1 will
bid my villains hold" returned the other. |
There wss something noble both in the
voice and manner Of his late opponent.
and Dick instantly dismissed sill fears Of
treschery.
"Lsy down your arms, meni" cried
the stranger knight. "Ih2vs yielded me,
upon promise OF life."
The tone o: the stranger was one Of ab- |
solute command, and almost instantly the |
din and confusion of the mellay ceased.
"Lswless," cried Dick, care ye ssfe2"
"Aye," cried Lswless, "safe and
hearty"
"Light me the lantern" said Dick.
IT'S not Sir Daniel here?" inquired the |
knight.
"Sir Dsniel7" echoed Dick. "Now, by
the rood, pray not. II would go i'll with |
me il he were here"
"Ill with you, fair sir2" inquired the |
other. "Nsy, then, If ye be not Of Sir !
Daniels party, profess comprehend no |
longer. Wherefore, then, fell ye upon |
mine ambush! In what quarrel, my young |
and very fiery friend? To what earthly |
purpose? And, to make q clear end Of
questioning, to Whist good gentleman have
I surrendered"
But before Dick could answer q voice |
spoke In the darkness from close by. |
Dick could see the speakers black and /
white badge, and the respectful salute
which he addressed to his superior.
"My lord," said he, 'sif these gentle.
men be unfriends to Sir Daniel, it is pity,
indeed, we should have been. at blows
with them; but it were tenfold greater
that either they or we should nnger here.
The watchers in the house-unless they
be all dead or deaf-have heard our ham,
merlng this quarter hour sgone; instantly
they will have signalled to the town; and
unless we be the livelier in our departure
we sre like to be taken. both OF US, oY s
fresh foe."
"Rawksley is in the right" added the
lord. CHOW please ye, sir? Whittier
shall we march7"
"Nsy, my lord" said Dick, Ego wheraf
ye willfor me-, do begin to suspect wei
have some ground Of friendship. and i'll
indeed, 1 began our acquaintance somss
Whist ruggedly, would not churlishls