The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-04-08

attack had. tired him a 5little,S SO that by
now he was brea thing bit hard, and we
were evenly matched. Then, too, had
wounded him slightly in the left arm be-
fore his attention was wholly diverted to I
me from Mallory. The pain Of this may
anxiety as to what was going on n me me
further room lessened his keenness. So I
we fought evenly, doggedly, he With |
bitter desperation, I determined that ne |
should not leave my point till the prin-
cess was safe. - Il
remember that / heard muffied cries
and oaths behind me. from the passage.
little crash and the scuffle OF feet. lSre-
member wondering DULY what Won Alt
dorf could be doing out there and Won-
dering still more, when, from the corner
Of my: eye, I saw him pressing one Of the
men whom had supposed done for, before
his point into the light of the big room,
and there engaging him. Il Butt mad no
time for anything but my own light. IN
deed at one moment 1t seemed TO me that
I myself was done for M $500,
What had hapepned out in the passage
| was something like this
The first rascal, whom Denis had
spitted before he could bring down his
heavy sabre, wa S not dead, but merely
run thru the shoulder. Indeed, to kill any.
of the men was far. from our Intention;
A dead man meant subsequently the ponce
and an investigation that might prove
| awkward for us. We wished merely:to
disable them so that we could make good
our retreat with the Princess Eleanor.
| But the fellow, when he, had lurched
to the f1oor,s lay there SO silent and so
still, that Won Altdorf supposed him I'M
CONSCIOUSNESS indeed he may have been
for a moment or two-and SO stood di-
rectly over his huddled body: while press
ing the point of his blade against the
back of the unhurt rascal who had tried
football playing with Denis. 2s - = "
But a dead cutthroatnis the only safe
one, as Colonel Won Altdorf will heartily
} bear witness. for, even as he stood Won
dering if he had not best stab the rogue
before him and have done with him,
there came sudden movement from be-
meath, and his feet were all at once
jerked from under him, SO that numbered
as he was, with sword in one hand and
lantern in the other, he fell sprawling
and cursing upon the PROSTATE rascal
, whose fate he had been meditating.
He told us afterward disgustedly
enough amidst our heartless roars OF
laughter, that for quite minute the three
. of them painted and squirmed and strug-
gled in a ludicrous heap there in the dark,
narrow little passage. !. He had one small
advantage, which / doubt not he pressed
The two others knew not, in the gloom
5 whether they were#striking friend or foe
and so were chary of their blows. Won
Altdorf on the other &hand-so he says
struck most heartily at anything that
came to his hand. ~ -.-E r~s 80
.. Presently, however, the unhurt one OF
the two slipped away from under Won
Altdorf, and cropping upon the floor found
his sabre, with which he dealt at random
: la frightful slash, and at once the arms
; that chung desperately to Won Altdorf'
ankles dropped limp and helpless. and he
springing up, Grove the other before him
! into the light of the studio. -. Ill.,.
t Bytithis time; Baron von Steinbrucke'
r breath was coming very fast and hard
/ and his high white. forehead shone swe
( in the cross light Of the ,laIsrs. He was
no Longer young and he. had not lived
. the sort of life that preserves a, swords
e mans yigor and endurance. l. mysel
e was fresh and strong, just beginning, in
E deed to warm to my work, and I knew
s that, saving accidents, I had him in m,
: power. In a little while now he mus
J, be SO fatigued that 1 could do with hin
o las liked. $. y
! Then Denis entered again from the
e further room. He held his sword er
a garde not knowing what he might meet
e but his left arm encircled the Princes.
Q Eleanors waist, holding her little be
: mind him. She, poor lady, now that tn
! danger was past, swayed upon her fee
r and trembled near the edge of collapse
s OF listening for our attack, and then he
If moment of deadly peril from the fourt
ruffians's sword, must all have been
II frlghtful strain to her already over
a wrought nerves. ;H". ,'v>s .sf.
d Baron Won Steinbrucke, when he ga,
a Denis with the princess upon his arm
"a made furious attempt to break ava
from me and attack him, but I presse
lie him back, quickening my play, an
re touched him again lightly near his frs
in wound. That brought back his defens,
n tho 1t wrung from him a snarlink ours
er that was foolish waste of sadly needle
he breath. z7z---
s. "Off with you. Denis!" I cried Don
= wait for us, take her to the carriage a
=, once and drive like the devil! Well fol
~ ~ low on foot. We're both safe. Off wit
~ you" ~
- 'Of with you, lad!' came from til
- further corner where Won A1tdort slashe
-, merrily away-for the pure fun Of it, II
=. certain. He could have done for his ma
~ long since "Off with you, we're a
e. right Gods love, why don't you go?"
Va So Denis, with a lingering, unwillin
glance over his shoulder knew he hur
gered for more fghting-bore the prince.
u away, and left the two of US to our wor]
= ~ Won Altdorf finished his almost at ono
l. heard his opponents saber crash to tt
n. floor, and the man himself drop sowl
=.
~, =. go fiat upon his face and lie still The
- Won Altdorf went out into the passas
to make sure Of the wounded rascal wi
- had pulled him down, but this man he
20 tainted again and was harmless. So tn;
~, Baron Won Steinbrucke alone RENAME
- to be dealt with, and Won Steinbrucke
y, strength was going fast.
- Won Altdorf who stood near, watchin
was just crying, oh, finish it, lad! f1ni.
IN it! This. is no sale d'armies!" when Il
IT Austrian, in lunging wildly, caught /,
foot in one of the garments, with whic
,r as have said, the floor Of the place w
as Uttered, SO that his impetus carrying h
nv body forward, threw him upon his KIN
SIS and his left hand, which he put out
10 save himself.
sid But my point, held ready to parry +
thrust, had lain at his breast, incln
slightly upwards, 50 that, as he fell,
i'm entered into his throat somewhere abo
in the larynx, in the soft parts under t
lru chin, and driving upward must ha
pierced his tongue and so met the DO
lid roof of the mouth, where: having on
lis, the force given it by his falling body,
for halted.
ow Go be Continued -morrow.)
xvi