The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-09-11

the press in which my enemies had
Wedged themselves at the door. every
man striving to enter first, held them
steadll Tor the instant that was re-
CURED TO bring Owain to my side. His
blade flashed past my shoulder and
plunged swiftly again and again into
the medley of AK and spearheads
aimed confusedly at us. Not a single
shot so far had been fired, and the only
SOUND was the sharp clash and CRATE
OF cold steel. Behind us l heard a bell
clanor out Its shrill alarm and my
uhcles voice screaming orders, and the
clatter OF feet as the garrison ran to
arms. before us the %half-naked saw
ages, their eye cleaning like sparks
under their fells Of matted red hair,
pushed against us in a dreadful silence
IKE wild beasts, too ferocious to utter a
single warning ere they attack.
1t was but a few moments that they
lmpeded each other by their tangled
huddiing in the doorway, then a great
voice which we both knew called on
lhem from behind, and several fell
back, a%ffording their comrades room
TO ply their pixies. But the delay had
given US the backing of five or six stout
FELLOWS, who swarmed up to the de-
tense with sword and buckler. Up to
this we had had but the light of the
smoky lamp, but now the storm burst
forth afresh, and much nearer. Great
sheets OF violet flame leaped from end
10 end or the sky, n seemed to burst
IN ambient floods through doorway and
windows; the thunder followed instant
upon the flash, and, fighting with our
races TO the storm, we were almost
blinded by the dreadful glare followed
by the inky blackness of the night
closing over 1t. With the second fash
the voice of Ieuan Gwyllt rang out
again, and the pikemen, agile as Wild
cats, strong as mountain lions, charged
%furiously upon US. The superior reach
OF their weapons now told; and, though
once and again in the glancing light 1
put aside a pikehaad with my sword, a
third reached me, took me in the side
and thrust me down headlong. Our
men now closed over my body, oppos-
ing their bucklers to the points and
hewing %furiously at the ~bareheads of
the Gwylliaid Cochion. l felt two hands
thrust themselves Into my collar, n
I was dragged from the tangle of feet
before I could turn myself to rise.
Are you hurt?" cried Owain in my
ear.
"A mere scratch" said I, springing
up; "the point caught in my doublet."
Then we will fall back and guard
the stair foot said Owain. "They ave
the entrance; the other they must not
have"
Never" said I, and we fastened
back.
The stairs ran up midway of the hall
and facing the door. AT the top of the
first flight was p square gallery, and
here was gathered a screaming band
of women. clinging to each other, and
now looking upon, now turning their
heads from, the medley of fight at the.
entrance. Enid, her faithful Siani close
at hand, stood resolutely at the stair
rail; as we fell back we waved u
hands, and a white smile shone on her
face. We placed ourselves at the stair
foot, and a shrill cry Of delight broke
out behind US. I turned my head and
saw my uncle two or three steps up.
stand to it, nephew" he cried, land
beat them off. And yet" he added,
and his tone seemed one Of chagrin, Il
saw you fall
"'Twas but a slip" said I, and
glanced his way. The sky opened as I
did SO, and the murky yellow-lighted
place was filled With a glare beyond
MONDAY. My uncle vas biting his
thumb ane looking down upon me
darkly. Owain began to shout com
mands IN Welsh. Two man armed With
muskets were darting up and down on
the edge Of the fray like terriers round
a badger hole, watching for a chance to
help Their fellows with shot. AT Owain's
call they ran back to him, and he post
ed them on the gallery above ana gave
then. orders. All this. which has taken
some time in telling. but took little in
the doing. and through it all the bat
Tie ragged. on our side With great shouts
and heavy cries, On tie other side With
a, silence and mute ferocity neNprISS-
ibly dreadful. l lifted my eye and saw
Miss Vaughan leaning over the rail.
Our glances met. and she spoke her
clear voice coming easily to my ears
through the turrlult.
Are YOU hurt, Master Heathcote?"
said che.
Not in the least 1 laughed back;
II was but pushed down"
Hat" CREW Owain at my side. l
turned my head and saw that u men
were giving little by little, and now
there appeared, breaking his way easily
through the fight, the tall, sinewy form
of Ieuan Gwylit. To him this was
mere play. He intercepted cut, thrust,
stab, and repaid them with deadly. IN
terest, as a man might hew his way
through a crowd OF children. He was
eagerly glaneing from side TO side, and
the first noise upon their side of the
battle was the roar of dreadful JOY he
gpve when he saw ST: Arthur on the
stairs. .Owain-neph- began the
latter in Il tom of extreme entreaty,
! hllt his voice ulGu VIVA III lAso
We grasped our swords tighter, II
the muskets began to thunder over u
heads. The garrison was being stead
Nv driven back, n there was now
room to fire over them into the mass
OF Red Men of the Dusk still! in the
doorway. The sitting smell of powder
in the air, the reports of the guns in
the confined space were even more
stunning than the thunder which rolled
without, and my uncle began to scream
in Welsh to the musketeers.
could distinguish nothing but the
word "Ieuan.' but his meaning was
easy enough to take. He was bidding
them mark down Ieuan Gwyllt, but
Ieuan was now in the midst of our OWL
men, and they were as likely to hit
friend as foe.
searched the landing once more
with my eye and saw the reason of the
shots following one on another so close
~ as they had done. Several spare
lErelocks were leaning ready to the
hands of the men, and were being
charged again as soon as fired by Miss
Vaughan and Slant. l turned again
and saw Ieuan Gwyllt breaking through
the last fringe of the skirmish, and
rushing upon his prey. He was fol-
lowed by a gigantic Red Man Of the
- - l. Al