The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-11-06

they stood together. Both sprang at
me, and I aimed to take the seconds
point with the coat while I played the
murderer and drove my blade home.
At the very instant OF attack, the
second changed his style. whirled up
his sword and cut me over the head.
I had given up my thoughts too much
to the other man., and though 1 raised
my arlm and broke much Of the blow,
yet. it lighted fairly along my green
wound, and the blood spurted as from
q fountain.
The pain Of q. still raw wound hack ed
open again was most exquisite, yet for
a few moments I held my ground. Then
a swift dizziness came over me and
reeled and fell. A shout Of savage joy
burst from the red mans lips, and he
pressed forward to make his wicked
plan good, when there was an unearth-
ly scream Of rage from the wood, and,
with a fierce thud of flying hoofs.
Whitesock. her great discolored teeth
laid bare and iron heels ready for in
slant action, dashed In to the rescue.
She was just in time and no more. AS
she bestrode my body, the weapon that
had taken Owain's life was levelled at
mine, but her sweeping kicks swiftly
drove the enemy back.
The first keen agony Of the wound
passed, but I felt unable to rise. so sick
and giddy was l. Whitesock turned
her big, bright eyes on me. and l
raised my hand. She laid her velvet
muzzle against it for an instant, then
looked warily round again. I had left
her browsing among the withered herb
age OF the wood, INC she must for
awhile have remained ignorant thai I
had run out n the open, or she would
nave followed me at once She had
evidently caught sight Of me as I fell,
and OWNED that her aid was needed.
Fly enemies had no pistols. and 1 felt
as safe from their swords as II / had
been in q castle. SO I lay there wait
Ing for the giddy feeling to pass off
before I got to my feet.
The duellist had by this time mopped
the BLOOD out Of his eyes, and he walked
unsteadily up to his companions. The
blade had taken him across the top Of
his forehead, and the flowing blood had
coated his face. 1t was now stiffening
and drying upon his cheeks, so that his
eyes seemed to glare from a hideous
red mask.
It's only a horse" he cried, run in
and stab him where he lies"
His brother took him at his word,
and ran in. He waved his sword in
the mares face as he dashed forward.
thinking to frighten her from her post,
but Whitesock stood steadily, her head
a little down. Then, Of a sudden, she
reared .furiously and stood bolt up
right On her hind legs; to my eyes, ly-
ing directly under her, she seemed as
tail as a tree. The murderer gave a
loud yelling laugh, thinking she had
reared to Whee round and fly, but new
er was a more fatal miscalculation
made: The first step that brought him
within striking distance saw the mares
fOrpfaaf d1rfad at hfV,s ,Yifb irroe;c+it1-
fury. No boxer in h ring ever plant
ed q blow more surely, or with a 1.-THE
Of the fearful force now employed. The
iron shod hoof. driven at lightning
speed by the mares tremendous
strength, took him fairly in the throat,
cutting short his laugh into a dreadful
silence, n hurting him six or seven
yards, the body rolling over and over
time and again.
The duellist dropped his sword and
flew to his brother. He raised the hud-
died mass from the ground, Their let it
fall again with a. loud cry. 1t rolled to
his feet and lay sprawling In limp and
uncouth attitudes. Had the murderer's
neck been closed in thrice-tempered
steel that awful blow must have broken
1T at once. and Owain was avenged.
h cowed the courage of the re-
naming two. and they stood despond-
entity over the dead body of their COM
panion. l lifted my hand and hooked
my fingers into a stirrup swinging
above my face, and dragged myself up.
Whitesock stood like a statue as I
scrambled to my feet, and then I
leaned upon the saddle, the scene be-
fore me swaying in time to the keen,
darling bursts Of pain which swept
through my head.
Some minutes passed thus, and
voices came to my ear. I turned a lit
tie n saw with giddy injurious eyes
a whole train OF figures Fastening
toward us.
Then MY mind cleared at a stroke as
saw Enid burst from the throng, run
swiftly forward, and fling herself on
the earth beside Owain's body.
A confused babel Of tongues arose,
some crying out in wonder and horror.
some demanding explanations, others
exchanging threats, for men of both
bands had come up, and the sight Of
their young leaders slain aroused saw
age wrath. I saw the tall old man who
had been In attendance upon Enid the
first time I met her, pointing and talk
Ing furiously, and gesticulating as If he
had witnessed the affair and was now
describing 1t, but I understood nothing
he said.
Isaw my uncle with wondering, half
frightened glances at me, talking ear
nestly with the two survivors Of the
duelling party. but 1t seemed difficult
to them from the dull apathy
Into which the fall OF their friend had
thrown them. I saw threee men Of
Nant-y-Bryn raise Owain's body care
fully, and bear it with slow steps to-
ward h house. Enid followed them,
and | saw her face. It was white and
drawn in dreadful grief, but no tear
stood in her eyes. She looked toward
me and at first there was no recogni-
ton in her glance. Then the knowl-
edge OF me came into her look, and I
perceived that she had v seen me
before nor dreamed that 1 was present.
She came to a pause within a couple
of yards Of me, her ayes bent upon my
CORY face, and I lifted my hand.
"Fou play" said /. in a voice which
sounded thin and dry in my own ears.
Il saw it all from the spinney there, but
ran in too late to save him from the
treacherous stroke. The man who dealt
It lies there. He will never strike foul
blow more"
The pain in my head doubled and re-
doubled it's harsh, grinding fury.
chung tighter to the saddle, but in vain.
My foothold seemed to, melt away un-
der me-. and I fell unconscious to the
ground.
CHAPTER XXI.