The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-22

lndl she alone ndQ brought upon
me. 1t might have seemed that she could
think Of some one but herself at such a mo-
ment; but. as 1 have said. 1 do not under
stand the working of womans mind So
that whatever 1 may have thought. only
said:
I'VE shall soon see, mistress. and for
your sake, at least. l can but try"
She looked straight into my face again
| for moment. and then moved over TO the
| fireplace without word.
Now, then. sir. are you ready?" asked
my man. and 1 answered by moving into
| the middle of the now cleared room. liked
| it not in any way. The lights were bad. At
best twas but fog. and man cannot be
blamed for wishing a good light 10 watch
his enemys eye To one side of the room I
could see five Notwithstanding knaves
+, standing together. and what might expect
| of them at any moment could not be
! guessed.
Then. too. good swordsman as / was-and
tbs no conceit that makes me say so. for I
| had had three years of work by day and
night. and half dozen before them of con-
slant practice with my father, Captain Bal
fort of the Indian wars-but. good swords
man as might be. no fight is a surety and
l knew nothing of my antagonist, except
ing that he was partly under the influence
Of liquor. If fell, what might not become
of the girl. what might not the papers in
my boot mean TO him, and those to whom
he belonged And it soon appeared to whom
he belonged, for he crossed my sword at
once, saying:
And now for myself and for the king!
Watch out, you bastard, for am the best
| of men to play with this toolr
And, indeed, he was a master hand.
could tell at the first thrust that he was
better than 1, and had he been empty of
! liquor. this tale and my own life had ended
there and then in that dirty room. He was
inside my guard dozen times in the first
two minutes, as we circled round each
other, playing constantly for the light of
single lantern that hung over the outer
| door
Still, / was growing calmer, and had be-
gun to gauge him better when he slipped
over my thrust and ripped the shoulder of
my coat with a sudden and a true stroke.
Then, on the instant, heard a stihed cry;
! and, glancing by his head, / saw the girl
standing by the fire. leaning forward, her
hands nervously clasped together at her
throat, her hood down upon her shoulders.
| ana look or terror In her eyes.
! "Ah," said the wretch, my lady whimp-
ers, does she? Fear not, I'll give her COM
fort when thou hast gone to hell"
| Twas spur that made me mad 10 think
on, realizing as did that he had all but
! done for me that moment. and 1 went at
him with every thrust and stroke / knew
beating his rapier till the room sang with
| the blows. But l could not touch him. He
was marvellous good hand, and no mis-
take; for he gave ground till I had him
with his foot at the other wall, but not
once did 1 get inside his guard.
Keep your hounds in their place" I
| cried, between my fast-coming breath; for
the men, whether from interest or with
some foul design. had gathered closer to US.
Stand off. you fools!" he cried in an
| swer. do We not see 1 have him pinked al
ready? Look We at that-and that-and
that!' And he broke away from the wall,
and pressed me as had never been pressed
before. nor wish to be again. Once he
touched me above the wrist and I could
feel the warm blood running down into my
sword hand. This was no country lout, in
good earnest, and l knew then that | had
! to do with some British oficer without his
uniform.
Another stified cry came from the direc-
ton of the fireplace sounding clear in the
silent room. and a smile played over the
mans mouth as he muttered:
Now one for the king!' And he drew a
little away from me. 1 stood my ground
and let him go. And as took a breath or
two to catch my wind, and brushed my left
hand across my eyes to wipe away the
sweat, I cried at him out of the bitterness
of my heart:
Damn you and your King, for villainous
knavesl Come. are We afraid, that We draw
away?"
Before I had we'll finished a look came
| into his eyes as he stopped and then, with
only the thought OF saving myself from
thrust I did not know. l jumped to the
right and thrust my sword straight out at
| him.
He had not counted on the quarts he had
drunk, and the STOPPING posture must have
affected his balance; for he lunged beyond
his power to recover. and, as he half fell
half thrust by me, his blade went through
the tail of my coat. and my own passed
clean through the top of his left shoulder
Down he went, carrying my sword with
him, and howl set up from the men,
"A foul blow! A foul blowi" they cried.
and had but time to pull my rapier away
when they were upon me. The first TO come
caught my fist on his nose and rolled away
| with groan of pain. but in instant the
others had me down. Twas a wretched
scramble of fight. one against four. and
kicked and struck out and cursed them all
for towards. when on a sudden the officers
voice sounded, high above the others, and
with his one good arm and the tavern keep
ers assistance, he pulled the crowd off
l jumped 10 my feet dazed and nearly
mad with anger TO receive a tap on my
shoulder from the fiat of his sword.
we've not finished with me, my friend,
Have We had enough"
81? You British spyl had enough? I'll
send your poor soul TO hell before I've had
enough"
Good" said he. Good, 'Tis a proper
| spirit But hell waits for others than me
tonight" and he was at me again with the
| blood running down the soaked sleeve of
his left arm, that swung aimlessly at his
side. The man was game beyond a doubt
and a strange respect for him crept over
me. cooling my brain and giving me
sight of what 1 must do TO save my own
life.
Again he beat into my guard. Again he
pushed me 10 the wall. But | was cooling
| douy, ard he could NOT efapd the tarr;t-1o