Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-03-14


Quick as flash of Lightning his an
tagonist, who was beneath. rolled the giant
over leaped TO his feet, and, grasping the
knife lying close by, plunged it into the
heart OF Haydec's murderer, who was
struggling TO his feet, but so awful was the
force OF the blow that the blade drove clear
through the mans lungs and passed out be-
tween his shoulders, and, without so much as
groan, Matteo fell back, stone dcadi
All this happened in far less time than it
takes to read about il, but not moment too
quickly. For when Nebbitt breathless and
aching from the crushing grip of his foe,
but quite game vet. was enabled to turn
his attention TO the others, he saw Oxford
engaged in deadly contest with three men
whom he was holding al bay with his rife,
which he grasped by the muzzle as he would
a club, and was whirling about him with
such lighming-like rapidity that it looked
like the flying spoSes of a swiftly-revolving
wheel He had already Drained two OF his
assailants.
Dana and Arthur Fairfax, back to back,
the one swinging his rifle Justify and the
other welding keen sword in his unin-
jured right hand, were fighting desperately
with four of the Italians, while huge
ruffian was decidedly worsting poor Roger,
who was bravely trying TO defend himself
Ere Nebbitt could reach him, Roger
groaned deeply, and suddenly relaxing his
hold on the other, fell backward as if dead
The Italian raised his knife TO strike the
PROSTATE man, but Nebbitt had already
picked up the Wallets rife, with which he
dealt the villain such a terrific blow on the
head that the seaman dropped to the earth
like log.
Tho ,,i.to, 4l,,,, ,,,,,,,,. - a. Ia oe n.
ford splendidly holding his own against
those three swarthy opponents, who did not
dare come within range of that lightning
swinging rife, but hung aloof, watching for
chance to spring upon the Engishman.
None TOO soon was this timely aid for, de-
spairing of firing their adversary, one Of
the men stepped backward and, STOPPING
quickly down, picked up a pistol which he
was just about TO fire at Oxford. when Neb-
bitt, with most awful, blood-curdling veil
that pierced far into the night and must
have greatly terrified those who remained
on the Vampa, bounded forward with ire
mendous leap and brought down the rife
I;butt squarely upon top Of the mans head
with such resistless impetus that it crashed
through bone and brain and literally split
open his skull from top TO bottom, driving
the vertebrse Of his neck down into his body,
so that, completely collapsed, he was
crushed to the earth as if by the mighty
hammer of pile-driver, while Nebbitt felt
the rapid bullet from his dischsrging pistol
burn his own cheek like a hot iron.
Although he could have done so more than
once, Arthur Fairfax refrained from trans
fixing either of his two men, as he would,
then, lose his sword and thus be weaponless
against the other, However, nerved to des-
peration by that frightful yen Of Nebbiti,
he made a hasty lunge forward and passed
the blade completely through the larger fell
low; then, quick as a flash, struck outward
with his left foot, suddenly tripping up the
other, who fell sprawling to the ground
Before the man could spring TO his feet,
Fairfax whipped out his revolver and shot
him through the head
The remaining four Italians, finding them
selves now outnumbered, turned and fed
towards their boats Just as Fairfax was
crying out: let them GO Don't follow
them one Of the desperadoes unexpected
~ turned and fired Ills pistol. With sharp
cry, Dana dropped to the ground.
The eye Of Fairfax flashed fire and he
dashed forward after the fleeing man, draw
ing his revolver. All at once he stopped,
muttering to himself:
''Why should /: II is not in self-defense
Dana may not be dead =
As il was, his brother was only stunned
But poor Roger had received deep stab
from which it took him many long day to
recover Fairfax himself escaped without
80 much as a scar. Nebbitt and Oxford dis
covered about their body several little
slashes and abrasures Of the slxin-suspi-
ciously like knife-cuts and bullet-grazes--
showing narrow escapes from death.