The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-03

light was fairly distributed as we stood
in the center, | saw in a moment that i
either of us gave way, the man who was
pressed back would be at an enormous
disadvantage. The ground was very
uneven, too; merely beaten earth, ant
the humps and bumps ON it were likely
enough to trip one up if forced back
wards. My antagonist had taken note
of these things as keenly as /, and ht
put all his force and strength into al
effort to drive me back.
/ answered with an effort equal to his
own; and for a while our heavy cavalry
swords clashed and rang under TIN
fierce blows which we dealt at one an
other.
Had it not been for his rage ! am con
WINGED he would have killed me within
couple of minutes, for he lunged ant
cut at me, parrying my best strokes
with q skill far beyond mime.
But he fought like mailman, and
was soon sure that his strength could
not last long at the furious pace he set
/ fought mainly ON the defensive, there.
fore, and had all my work to save my
self. Indeed, ] was wounded in thret
places before | touched him once.
A furious blow at my head | man
aged to turn, but only so tnat it gasheo
my left shoulder, bringing the blood
streaming down my arm and side. A.
most instantly afterward smartlng
cut on my leg told me / was wounded
there, and before / had time to think
of lit, his sword had sliced the lower
part Of my left cheek.
All the time not word was spoken.
not a moments breathing space made
in the fighting. We eyed each other ID
grim deadly animosity, and, except that
there was a brighter gleam of VIM
dictiyeness and pleasure when he wound
ed me, there was no change in the fierce
Intensity and blood lust with which
his eyes held mine.
| saw that / should be certainly kill
ed if / kept on the defensive only;
should either be hacked to pieces grad
ually or grow too weak from loss OF
blood to parry his more dangerous
blows. / changed, therefore, suddenly
and with something of the wildness OF
a beast at bay when it scents DEATH
began to cut hnd thrust iat him
with all the strength / could muster
pouring in my blows with such rapid
violence that twice in as many minutes
i u
him.
We were both bleeding badly now
and my antagonist breatheing very
heavily with the fatigue Of the combat
but my rage had laid hold of me now
and. though / was cool and wary enough
outwardly, / fought with all the fiery
yehemence of desperation. My greater
strength soon told, and | rained IN my
..4n sIr1or
that he could scarcely fend them off,
and at that saw a look come into his
ewes which spoke Of his conviction that
/ should beat him.
This girled me to still further exer-
tons. Now was my chance or never,
and a minute later the end came. Max
ing a rapid feint, | put all my strength
into a terrific stroke which he tried IN
vain to parry. 1t crashed through his
guard and slashed into his sword arm
with such force rs to nearly sever the
limb from the body. His sword went
gathering to the ground and hung help
less by his SIDE the blood gushing out In
spurts that told of a severed artery.
He gave himself up to death like a
brave man. and faced me calmly
ITO the death, sir, he said, speaking
for the first time since the fight be-
gan.
ITO the DEVIL 1 answered. DO you
take me for buteher|
He could stand no longer and sank
half fainting to the ground.
Il must bind up that arm or you Il
bleed to death before help can come
mo, no. Fly, sir" he said, his voice
now weak. ''YOu will be caught here,
and then"
wasted no time in words, but tearing
a sash from his waist, | managed
rough kind of tourniquet and so stopped
the rush of blood As | was finishing
heard steps approaching the barn. lie
heard them too.
Ely, fy,' he whispered.
Catching UP my coat and sword, | ran
toward the door.
"D'Aguilar, D'Aguilar, are you
there?"
/ recognized the majors voice. but
made no reply. The big unwieldly door
swung back, and Major Montrey came
in He saw me, and put himself in my
path,
What's the meaning of this? You
can't pass" he cried.
Pore God, man, have a care!' cried
furiously. STAND out of my path, or
I'll cut you down." But he stood his
ground and called for help.
In moment | was on him. Lifting
my sword on high, and uttering a fearful
oath, dropped my coat and rushed AZ
him.
THAT mans wounded" / cried, and,
catching up my coat, dashed out into
the dark l ran almost straight into the
arms of the soldiers who were hasten