The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-12-06

men twill be ten gold ioes and a double
allowance of liquor to the man who first
claps eyes on any one of the four"
The subaltern went to carry out the
order. and Falconnet fell to pacing back
and forth before the little wigwam
could see his face at the turn where the
freight fell upon him; twas the face
of a villain at his worst. namely a viii
lain half in liquor. There was Turk
ing devil Of passion peering out of the
sensuOus eyes; and ever and anon he
stopped as to listen for some sound with
in the captfves' lodge
When the lieutenant returned to make
his report. he was given another order to
cap the first
Your line is too close drawn and too
conspicuous" said the captain shortly
Move the men out fifty PAGES in ad-
vance. and bid them take cover"
They will scarce be within hail Of
each other at that" says the lieutenant.
Near enough. with ten gold pieces to
sharpen their eyesight Go you with
them and hold them to their work"
The line was presently extended as
the order ran. each link in the Gordon
chain advancing fifty PAGES on it's front
into the forest Dick fetched a deep
sigh of relief; and 1 thought less OF the
thtn-leafed cover and the scarlet coat OF
me.
his sentry beat before the lodge, but
when his men were out OF sight and
hearing he stopped short and stole on
tiptoe to lay his ear to the flap
$50 you are awake. Miss Margery?
Send your woman out. I would speak
with you-alone."
There was no reply, but We could both
hear the low. anguished voice Of our
dear lady praying for help in this her
hour OF trial Dick inched aside to give
me room, freeing his weapon. as I did
mine. We were not overQuiet about IT,
but the captain OF horse was too hot
upon his own devils business TO look
behind him
Having no answer from within. he
stopped to loose the flap. II was pegged
down on the inside. He arose and whip
ped out his sword. The freight fell upon
his face again and we saw IL as It had
been the face Of a foul hend from the
pit.
"Open!" he commanded: and when
there was neither reply nor obedience he
cut the flap free with his sword and lung
1t back.
The two women within the wfgwam
were on their knees before little cruel
fix hanging on the lodge wall. So much
we saw as we broke cover and ran In
upon the despoiler. Then the battle
madness came upon US. and j, for one.
the swordsman fighting for his hfe-a
face IN which the hot flush Of evil pas
sion had given place to the ashen gray
ing Of fear.
We drove at him together. Dick and 7.
and so must needs fall afoul OF each
other clumsily. giving him time to spring
back and SO miss the claymore stroke
which else would have shorn him TO the
middle Then ensued as pretty a piece
IL anka - h. al
cut-and-thrust school could wish to see;
and through it all this kings captain Of
horse seemed to bear a charmed life
There was no punctilio OF the code OF
honor in this duel a Poutrance. Knowing
our time was short, we fought as men
who fight with halters round their necks;
not to decide nice point at issue, but
to kill this accursed villain as would
kill a mad dog or venomous reptile
whose living on imperiled the life and
honor Of the woman we loved
Thrice. while 7 held him in play, Dick
rushed In to end II with a scythe-sweep
Of the broadsword: and thrice the Scot
fish death was turned aside by the fash
ing circle Of steel wherewfth the man
striving shrewdly TO gain time made shift
to shield himself.
Yet il was rot in flesh and blood 70
fend the double onslaught for more than
some brief minute or two. Play as he
woodland no schla germefster Of my old
field rnarshal's picked troop could best
him at this game Of parry and defense
he must give ground step by step: slow
Iy at the pressing OF the Ferrara and In
quick backward lears when the great
broadsword bit at him.
For the first few bouts he withstood
US in grim silence. But now Richard cut
less sxillfully turned aside. brought
him to his knees. This broke his
bull courage somewhat. and though
he was afoOt and on guard before
my point could reach him, he began to
below Justify for help.
AS you would suppose. the call was
all unneeded. At the first clash OF steeA
the troopers were up and swarming to
the rescue; and now on all sides came
don line.
Had F'a1connet held MS ground a mo-
ment longer he would have had US fast
in the jaws of the trooper trap; but tits
the fatal flaw in mere brute courage that
It will break at the pinch. No sooner
did the volunteer captain catch a glimpse
OF his up-coming reinforcements than
heels. running like a craven coward and
shouting madly 70 his men to close with
US and cut as down.
After him." roared Dick. who was by
now as rage-mad as any berserker; and
with a cut and thrust to right and left
for the nipping trapjaws We were out
and away in chase
Now you may mark this as you will:
that while the devil hath need OF his
bond-servant he will keep the villain
breath OF life In his vassal. Three bounds
beyond the closing trapjaws fetched Us.
pursued and pursuers, to the open camp
field: and here the devils miracle
wrought. Out Of the forest fringe. out
Of the slxirting underground. out OF the
very EARTH. as it seemed. uprose yell
ing mob Of Cherokees-the detachment
we had met in the cavern returned in
the very nick of time TO cut US on from
the pursuit and to ring as IN whooping
circle of death.
Back to back. ladr' I shouted: and
twas thus we met their onslaught.
In such a fray as that which followed
tits the trivial things that leave their
mark upon the memory For one. I II
call the curious thrill OF mastermightAt
gave me to feel the play OF Jennifer's
great shoulder muscles against my back
L. = III oIor