The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-03-04
TEE MYSTERIOUS GUNNER
An Exciting Story of the Wal
of 1912.
ro~
BIZ JOHN r. MUSICK.
BIZ JOHN r. MUSICK.
S1SS@S
CHAPTER XVII.
THE DEsERTER'S PLAN.


Major Bridges was o stout, plethora
Englishman about forty years OF age
He was, as the reader has doubtless
judged from his plans, ambitious,
naughty and unscrupulous. BE had blue
eyes and light-brown hair, which was
close-cropped.
He wore belt about his waist, which
sustained O sword and pistol.
Ccwardioe was not one OF his vices,
and the moment he cognized his enemy,
Captain Alton. be determined to fight.
AHA, you Yankee dog, will have to
shoot you, see," said the Major, draw
ing his pistol.
Griffith was as quick as be.
Everything now depended on the rapid
ity with which they acted. a seconds
delay would be instant death.
Both pistols we're drawn and leveled at
almost the same moment.
Perhaps their very anxiety was thei1
safety Scarcely had the bright, pol.
ished barrels giittered upon the air be.
fore two stunning reports rang out
Griffith felt the Englishmans bullet
Craze his cheek, and in a moment the
smoke from both weapons had sufficiently
cleared for him to discover that the En-
elishman only had lock of his brown
hair clipped from his temple.
Here is something which will not
miss" cried Captain Alton, snatching his
sword from its scabbard.
Very good, my young cock. l shall
take pleasure In cutting your comb, said
the Major, while smile fitted over his
face.
9 You coward!-you knave, how dared
you abduct an innocent young girl?' And
the American leaped forward and attacked
the Engiishman with such fary that for
several momentssIhe latter was forced to
be upon the defensive all the time.
The Major was cool, however, and care-
gully parried the fierce blows and thrusts
Of his antagonist.
Griffith was not long in discovering that
he had no mean antagonist. His furious
assaults avsiled him nothing more than
to lose his strength, and in few mo-
Inents he tempered his attack with rea-
son.
Major Bridge, being aa expert swords-
man, had no fears of his opponent, espe-
cially as he only belonged to the volun-
teer service. Whoever knew q volunteer
that was equal to regular army officer in
the handling of sword or foil?
: AS soon as he has had time to cool
himself and strike less blindly, will
test the young fellows skill, the Major
said to himself, and smile of Infinite
satisfaction fitted over his face.
But as Griffith became cooler he became
more cautious, and began TO display o
skill which the Major never dreamed he
passessed.
Aha! where did you learn that" the
Major asked, as our hero parried one of
his favorite thrusts.
Griffith made no answer, but returned
q counter thrust which the Britton found
required all his skill to parry.
Very we'll, sir; if this is to be war to
the death, so be it," cried Major Bridges,
who, despite all his determination to keep
cool, was growing little angry.
Our hero's turn had come to be cool,
and, being tireless and watchful, he soon
convinced Major Bridges that he was at
least his equal.
They had been engaged but few min
,p.es when the bushes at the rear of the
Major parted ond two redcoats, with
fixed bayonets, rushed to tie rescue of the
Briton.
Don't kill him!" cried the Major, who
now discovered that the tide had turned
IN his favor. I want to make him pris-
oner.
The soldiers could have shot our hero
with their muskets, but instead they
sought to disarm him. He had three
foes instead of one to contend with, and,
consequently, he was forced to use his
sword more earnestly and rapidly.
The bright steel blade few like light
ming above the heads Of the Epglishmen,
and the clash of steel and flying sparks
indicated the fury of the strokes. Clash
ing, striking, glancing, and darting, like
,forked beams of lightning, the poEsho,
blades few, the steel points Of the baEo.
nets darted again and again at the Ameri
cans breast and it was only IL question
of time when his sword arm would be
exhausted.
Griffith had begun 10 seriously realize
his position when two quick, saarp re.
ports rang out in his rear, and both the
English oldiers sank to the earth, shot
through tie brain.
The underbush on his side parted, and
with earth-quaking yells two tall forms
leaped forward. waving their heavy niles
in the air ss If they were no more than
: feathers.
, Major Bridge sa. that he could save
his life alone L., / III MI. hufling his
) sword ut his ant az onist, with q yell Of
Ysge and fear wheeled about and disap-
peared like fash of lightning into the
h;cke.
Captain Alton caught the whiaziu9
blade upon his own sword, turned II
ASIDE. and msda furious lupae st tue