Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-03-08
MN.
OF THE SwORDSMAN wITEE THE
BROWN LACK EFT

MN
OF THE SW0RDSMAN WTTfE TIE
BROWN JACKET
The sergeant, who was Il great, raw
aOned west-eoUntrym pushed the gate
open. aud we were advancing up the
winding pathway, when a stream of yell
low Light so0ded out from a suddenly
spcned door, and we saw q dark squat
figure dart through it into the inside OF
the house. At the same mGInent there
rose up babel of sounds, followed by
two pistol Shots and a rearing. gaspimg
lrubbub, with clash of swords ami storm
of oaths. At this sudden Uppoar we all
three ran at our topmost speed up the
pathway and }peered in through the open
door, where we saw a scene such as /
shGA s.Iver forget while this old memory
az mine can conjure up amy picture of
the past.
The room was large ami lofty with
long rows of hams and sailed meats
dangling from the Smoke-browned raft
'ers, as is usual in Somersetshire farm
houses. A high black clock licked in ii
corner, and airude table, with plates and
dishes laid out as for s meal, stood in
the center. Right i'll front of the door
a great firetof wood fagGtS wsts blazing,
and before this, to our unutterable hor
For, there hang a man head d0wuwards.
round his ankles, and which, passing
over a hook in a BEAM had been made
fast to a ring in the floor The struggles
of this unhappy man had caused the rope
to whxFa round so that he was spinning
in front of the blaze like "a Joint of meat.
Across the threshold lay n woman, the
one whose cries had ATTRACTED as, but
hen rigid face aud twisted body Showed
that our aid had come too late to save
her from the fate which she had seen
--~rTupTndiisg. Close by nar two sswarthy
dragons in the glazing red coats of the
royal army lay stretched across each 9TH
er upon the floor, dark and ,seOwling even
IN death. In the center of the room two
other dragons were cutting and stab
hing with their hroadsw0FClS at u thick
short, heavy-shouldered man. clad in
coarse brown kersey stuff, who sprang
about among the chairs and round the
table with a long. basket hilted rapier
IN his hand, parrying or lodging their
blows with wonderful adrOitness. and ev-
cry now and then putting in a thrust in
return Hard pressed as he was, his set,
Iesolute face, firm mouth, and bright.
Nell-opened eyes spoke of n bold spirit
within. while the blood which dripped
from the Sleeve of one Of his opponents
proved that the contest was not so I'M
equal as 1t might appear. Even as we
Ea2ed he sprang back to avoid n fierce
rush of the furious soldiers, and by
quick. sharp side stroke. he severed the
rope by which the victim was hung. The
body fell with Il heavy thud upon the
brick floor, while the little swoPdsman
danced off in moment into another
quarter of the room, still stopping or
avoiding with the utmost ease and skill
the shower of blows which rained upon
him.
This strange scene held us spellbound
for few seconds. but there was no time
for delay, for slip or trip would prove
fatal TO the gallant stranger. Rushing
into the chamber, sword in hand. we fell
upon the dragons. who, Outnumbeped as
they Were, backed into corner and
struck ont Hereby, knowing that they
need expect no mercy after the devils
work in which they had been engaged.
Holloway, our sergeant of horse. spring
ing fa1lously in, laid himself open 10 q
thrust which stretched him dead upon
the ground. Before the dragon could
disengage his weapon. Sir Geryas cut
nm down, while ut the same moment
the stranger got past the guard of his
antagonist, and wounded him mortai1v
III the throat. OF the four redcoats not
one escaped alive, while the bodies of our
sergeant and of the old couple who had
been the first victims increased the hor-
ror Of the scene.
Poor Holloway is gone" said l. plac-
ing my hand over his heart. "Who ever
saw such shambles? l feel sick and
Here is eau de vie. if I mistake not
cried the stranger. clambering up on
char and reaching a bottle from the
smell TODD, too. by the smell Take
Il sup Tor you are as white as a new
bleachcl sheet"
Honest warfare | can abide. but
scenes like this make my blood run cold"
! answered taking gulp from the flask
was very young soldire then. nv
dearS. but / confess that TO the end Of
my campaigns any form of cruelty had
the same effect upon me. | give You my
word that when I went to London last
fan the sight Of an overworked, raw
backed cart-hOrse Straining with it's load
and logged for not doing that which il
could not do, gave me greater aualms
than did the field OF Sedgemoor. or that
greater day when ten thousand Of the
hover OF France lay stretched before the
earthworks of Landen.
The woman is dead" said Sir Cor
vas, land the man is also. / fear. pasf
recovery. He is not burned, but suffers.
should 1udge, poor devil. from the rush
of blood to the head"
If that be all it may we'll be cured -
remarked the stranger: and, taking a
small knife from his pocket. he rolled mn
Ine Old mans sleeve and opened one Of
his veins. At first only a few sluggish
MACK drops oozed from the wound. but
presently the blood began to flow moro
freely, and the injured man showed signs
Of returning sense.
tie Will i've" said the little swords
nan. Putting his lancet back in his pock- |
et. And now. who may you be to whom |
owe this interference which Shortened
the AFFAIR though mayhap the result |
would nave been the same had you left |
us 20 settle II among ourselves :"
we are from Monmouth's army" 7 |
answered He lies at Bridgewater. and !