Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-06-24
now long have to IiveY' asked.

.NO.
"Ah, you wish the murder to be Sc
cret."
His answer was to wave me out ol
the room. fired a parting shot.
"One Of my judges is obviously G
man of fine honor" cried contemptu
ously to Captain dAguilar as passed
him. "a platoon is far surer revenge
for coward than duel"
The taunt went straight home, for ht
started, caught his breath and hall
leaped to his feet as if to answer me
But no interruption followed, and
was led away by the guard. This time
they took me out Of the house and
thrust me into what appeared to be q
kind of woodshed. The key was turned
on me, the soldiers remaining on guard
outside.
1t was some time before my eyes
grew accustomed to the darkness, and
then began to feel about the place.
found some heaps Of cut wood and, sit
ting down on one of them, was surpris
ed at the jangle Of falling iron or steel
Feeling about on the floor, my hands
came in contact with a sword, and tC
my intense JOY found it was my own
I fastened it on, and while vowing that
now I would have fight for my life
began to wonder who could have put II
In such place.
set it down to Lota. The brave girl
had learned where should be impris
oned and had brought the sword here
Probably, too. there was some way OF
escape if could only find it. With that
l began to grope around the walls and
feel for window.
| / was doing this when there came q
noise Of unbarring, and an opening was
made in the wall, through which the
night air came rushing cold and blus.
ferrous.
"Herr Grafw called a voice.
"Who Is that"
at is |, Captain d'Aguilar. You will
find your sword there. If you are not
afraid. come out by this window and
will lead you to place where car
cheat the platoon by taking your life"
"Good," said l emphatically, seeing
now it was he, and not Lota, who had
put the sword there for me and why he
had done it. In moment was by his
side and we were striding through the
darkness Of the night.
He took me to an empty barn in
which couple Of lamps were burning
| giving a dim, unsteady light
times short. This is the best we
can do. We must use swords and can
have no witnesses Sign this first" He
held out paper, and read it by the
light of the two small lamps.
I'VE, Captain dAguilar and the Graf
Won Hollebrann, have agreed to settle
our quarrel alone together here with
swords. Everything fairly and honora'
bly, done"
l signed under his name and laid the
| paper underneath one Of the lamps.
"Quick" he said, and l saw he had
already stripped to his shirt and was
rolling up the sleeve of his sword arm.
| made ready instantly, and in less
than half minute we stood facing one
another in the grim, silent place, star
ing into each others eyes, ready to en-.
| gage.
"To the DEATH he said fiercely.
"To the deathw I answered in the
same tone setting my teeth, and our
| swords crossed.
The first few passes showed me that
l was q stronger man than he but he
| the better swordsman. He was, how
ever, half beside himself with rage
and from~the moment when he hissed
out the words. "To the death" saw
| his deadly intent was set on killing me.
The light was abominably insufficient
| for the grim work. The lamps were
placed one in the middle Of each side OF
the long, gloomy barn, and. although
| the light was fairly distributed as we
stood in the center. saw in Il moment
| that if 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, and the Jumps and bumps on it
were likely enough to trip one up If
forced backward. My antagonist had
taken note of these things as keenly as
l, and he put all his force and strength
into an effort to drive me back.
answered with an effort equal to
his own, and for awhile our heavy
cavalry swords clashed and rang un-
der the fierce blows which we dealt at
one another.
Had it not been for his rage l am
convinced ne would have killed me
within couple of minutes, for he
lunged and cut at me, parrying my
best strokes with a skill far beyond
mine.
But he fought like a madman, and l
was soon sure that his strength could
not last long at the furious pace he
set. I fought mainly on the defensive.
therefore, and had all my work to save
myself. Indeed was wounded in
three places before touched him
once.
A furious blow at my head | man.
aged to turn. but only so that 1t cash.
ed my left shoulder, bringing the blood
streaming down my arm and side. a.
most instantly afterward a smarting
cut on my leg told me was wounded
there, and before had time to think
of it his sword had sliced the lower
part of my left cheek.
All the time not word was spoken,
not moments breathing space made
I'm the fighting. We eyed each other in
grim, deadly animosity, and, except
that there was a brighter CLEAN OF
yindictiveness and pleasure when he
wounded 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 l 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 beast at bay when it scents death
began to cut and thrust at him witt
all the strength l could muster, pour
ing in my blows with such rapid VIC
lence that twice in as many minutes
broke down his guard and wounded
him.
We were both bleeding badly now
and my antagonist was breathing very
heavily with the fatigue Of the combat
i L,,+ ,,,,- r.,no hnd lail hold of me NOW