Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-10-07

altogether he staggered with SO dare
devil an air, clnking his spurs and
swinging out his long sword reckless
", that il was no wonder three or four
of the nearest fellows gave back a foot.
Come on" he cried, boisterously.
forming a ring by the simple process Of
sweeping his blade from side TO side.
while he made the dagger in his left
hand flash around his head. "Who is
for the game? Who will strike a blow
for the little admiral? Will you come
one, two, three at once; or all together :?
Anyway, come on. you
And he closed his challenge with y
volley of frightful oaths. directed at
the group opposite.
1T is no quarrel of yours" said the
big man, suIkily; making no show of
drawing his sword. but rather drawing
back himself.
"All q-arrels are my quarrels! and
no quarrels are your quarrels. This Is
about the truth, fancyl" was the
smart retort; which our champion
rendered more emphatic by a playful
lunge that caused the big bully to skip
again.
There was loud laugh at this, even
among the enemy's hackers. Bah The
great pig!" CALCULATED the girl above.
Spit him!" and she spat down on the
whilom Hector-who made no great fig
ure now.
Shall bring you a slice of him, my
dear?" asked my rakehelly friend,
looking up and making his sword play
round the shrinking wretch. Just a
tit-bit, my love?" he added, persau-
sively. "A mouthful of white liver and
caper sauce?"
Not for me, the beastl" the girl
cried, amid the laughter of the yard.
''Not a bit? IfIwarrant him tender?
Ladies' meat?"
bah! mol" and she stolidly spat
down again.
do you hear? The lady has no taste
for you," the tormentor cried. Pig
of a Gascon!" And deity sheathing his
dagger. he seized the big coward by the
ear, and turning him round, gave him
a heavy kick which sent him spinning
over bucket, and down against the
wall. There the bully remained,
swearing and rubbing himself by turns;
while the victor cried, boastfully:
Enough of him. If anyone wants to
take up his quarrel, Blaise Bure is his
man. If not, let us have an end of it.
Let some one find stalls for the gentle
mems horses before they catch chill;
md hnyrn 6nTaa With Ac go - -
added, and then he turned to us and
removed his hat with an exaggerated
flourish: 81 am your lordships' servant
to command"
l thanked him with heartiness, half
earnest, half-assumed. His cloak was
ragged, his trunk hose, which had been
fine enough, were stained, and almost
pointless. He staggered inimitably,
and had led-captain written large upon
him. But he had done us a service, for
Jean had no further trouble about the
horses. And besides one has I. natural
liking for a brave man, and this man
was brave beyond question.
"You are from Orleans" he said, re-
spectfully enough. but as one asserting
a fact, not asking question.
Yes I answered, somewhat aston
ished. "Did you see us come imp"
mo, but looked at your boots. gen
tlemen, he replied. white dust, north;
red dust, south. Do you see?"
"Yes, see,'' said, with admiration.
"You must have been brought up in
sharp school, NJ. Bure."
SHARP masters make sharpscholars,"
he replied, grinning. And that answer
l had occasion to * member afterwards.
"You are from Orleans, also ?" asked,
as we prepared to GO in.
''Yes, from Orleans, too, gentlemen.
Iut earlier in the day. With letters
letters of importance!" And bestowing
something like wink of confidence on
us, he drew himself up, looked sternly
at the stable folk, patted himself twice
on the chest, and finally twirled his
mustaches, and smirl1ed at the girl
above, who was chewing straws.
I thought it likely enough that we
might find it hard to get rid of him.
But this was not SO. After listening