Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-11-05
CHAPTER XXI.
CLOSE QUARTERS.

CLOSE QUARTERS.
1 was just swinging myself back into
the room when there was swishing of
petticoats along the narrow passage,
and In ran Siani.
Many, many, coming she called In
loud whisper; go! gol"
shook my head and she darted to
the window. A low cry burst from her
lips as she saw the watchers without.
a great clatter of feet on the stairs
and hubbub of angry voices warned
me of the danger which threatened
from within, and cast q glance about
me. To make a stand where l was
would be impossible. The passage was
the only place to hold them. In a few
words 1 explained TO Siani-who un-
derstood English much better than she
spoke it-what L intended to do, and
she nodded.
II keep here" she said. No one
come this way She had provided
herself with a formidable knife, and
now spat on her fist, took a firm grip of
the haft and posted herself at the win
dow. l patted her shoulder drew my
sword and ran for the passage. 1 shut
the door of the room softly and lis
tened. A loud cry of surprise rang
along the gallery. The attacking party
had found my room empty. Then I
the stairs, and | knew they would be
ON the right scent without delay.
Luckily for me the passage was not
straight. 1t took a sharp turn half way
between the chamber door and the
mouth, where 1t opened to the gallery
1t was unighted. and the closing of
the door threw this end into complete
outlined against the light without. 1t
was narrow, and as love the point
better than the edge, / was the better
suited.
"Come!" thought L. otis a case of
drawing Il badger. The hole is snug
and convenient to II degree, and If 1 do
not give them as good as they bring,
twill be a foul shame to me-.
l had, as weapons, my trusty sword,
blade which had served my father
before me, and is of unequaled temper,
and pair of pocket pistols with which
Enid had furnished me. The pistols
had each two barrels, and, of course,
the balls We're small. But, at q few
PAGES, a little bullet can give a great
wound, and | took one in my left hand,
my sword in my right, and stood firmly
I'm the angle of the passage. l had
barely presented my pistol when a
cluster of faces swarlued into the OPEN
ng.
1t was all dark to their eyes; they
knew not where | was, and they hung
for an instant ut the mouth of the pas
sage. Ii was TO my advantage quickly
to deepen this unwillingness to add
vance, and L steadily discharged both
barrels of the pistol. The shots struck
home among the crowd and it melted
away with mingled cries of pain and
fury. Then two swift figures sprang
into the narrow gap. one from either
side, laid pixies before them, and ran
In ham ri witt \,
their greater reach. This attack was
mere foolishness and delivered In the
blindness of rage-a passion to which
the Celtic temper is prone, and which
leads them Very often to vain attempts,
as in this case
For the two men, being of the Merry n
faction, and ignorant of the house. knew
not of the bend in the passage, and
dashed their pike-heads against the
wall. Meeting so unyielding a SUBJ
stance, the pixies flew from their hands
and they, themselves, rolled down head
long. AS they rose, l cut each of them
shrewdly over the head, for had they
made another step forward. they would
have been within graphing distance
and to be seized by one of them would
have been fatal since the whole crowd
would have followed up at a cry. The
sting of the blade quickly let out their
fury. and, without attempting to pick
up their weapons, they scrambled down
the passage and out of my sight, one of
them grooming heartily.
L stepped back in shelter of the wall
and so, when couple of muskets We're
presented and discharged, the bullets
few by me harmlessly. could see
nothing of those who fired save the
hands and several volleys were poured
in this fashion into my retreat. Some
of the bullets glanced round the outer
angle of the bend, which was a smooth
curve, and, traversng the whole length
of the passage, struck into the door.
Time and again they whiazed by me,
against the inner angle escaped UNI
touched. The firing ceased. and
peered out again Thick, eddying clouds
of smoke obscured my view, then u
bright, red glare struck into, them and
with steady, cautious steps, fresh
party of my enemies came upon me.
The move was we'll planned. Two men
We're in front. ready With their weap-
ons; behind them q tall fellow held a
blazing torch on high, to light them to
the attack Thus | must fight with
the light In my eyes, and they in COM
plete shadow. 1 knew my assailants at
Il glance. They were the duelist and
his cousin. The duellist was little the
foremost. and he held pistol in his
+ tolC nallu. j MS dreaded nucn more
than the sword in his right, and I drew
my remaining pistol also. Vet was
unwilling to spend my last shots till
utterly compelled, and l dropped upon
one knee. and uttered low, melancholy
groan. The duellist stepped out brisk
ly upon hearing this, and l was ON him
before he know how close he was to my
lair.
L had marked his left arm from the
beginning of my spring, and my sword
was through his wrist, held out stihly,
pistol in hand, before he could crook
his finger OH the trigger
The pistol ratified on the boards at
my feet. and his companion fired as [
leaped back The noise in the confined
space was deafening, but the bullet did
no more than rip a shred from the
shoulder of my coat.
With Shrek of pain the duellist
1unged fiercely at me.
l turned his sword aside and whipped
up my blade in time to guard a cut
from his companion. The fellow with
the torch understood his business. for
he now lowered the leaping red flame
until it was just above his leaders,
shoulders and directly level with my
eyes.
The two swords springing out at me
We're lined with bright strealSs as their