The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-10-23
CHAPTER.XX.

regarded the events of the twilight.
CHAPTER.xx
FOUL PLAY.
The next morning there was no sign
OF leua1i, or. Indeed, Of any Of the men
about the place, and ! saddled White
SOCK and galloped off in the direction
we had followed the previous day. I
kept a sharp lookout as I rode over the
gray. naked hills, but saw no sign Of
people abroad. I did not know when 1t
was intended to beat up the quarters
or the Red Men of the Dusk, and half
expected to meet scouting parties over
any rise. But the mountain opened be-
fore me, mile after mile, bare and SOM
Der and ~llfeless.
Within an hour I had ensconced my
self among the boulders commanding a
view of Nant-y-Bryn, and here I began
a patient watch. I saw plenty of move
ment about the house-men coming
and going, carrying water and groom
ing horses out on the hillside before
the gate, figures rambling idly, figures
running busily, but among them no
sign of the tall, straight form for which
1 looked.
Hours slipped slowly away, and I
glanced at the sky and saw that the
sun was at it's zenith. I rubbed my
dazzled eye and turned them on Nant-
y-Bryn again. A cluster Of figures
seemed moving in my direction
through the bright fog which, staring
at the sun, had spread before me. I
shut my eyes for a few moments, then
looked out eargerly. Yes, four people
were walking up the hill, two and two,
strolling carelessly, and Owain was one
OF the leading pair. They came slowly
on, not heading directly toward me, but
more in a line for the spinney be-
low.
At some distance from the house
they glanced back, and Immediately
began to walk briskly. with the air Of
men carrying out a definite plan. From
my perch I had the whole country be-
low me, n in a moment I fancied I
saw the meaning of 1t.
A dip in the hill had hidden them
from the house, and there was now no
need for them to assume a careless
air. They were bent on something in
which they wished to avoid interior
ence, and. knowing Owain as I did, I
was half assured what it was. OBJ
served that they walked strictly two
and two, and that there was no turn
ing Of heads, as there would be were
a general conversation going on.
In a short time they passed out Of
my sight behind the further edge of
the spinney, n I made down for the
trees, leading Whitesock by the rein. 1
trod softly through the larches and
peered out. 1t was exactly as 1 had
fancied. Forty yards away the foul
figures were gathered on a level patch
Of turf. Owain and another young fell
loW about his own age had their coats
already off and their naked swords in
their hands.
His opponent and the two seconds
NIyaro tho ynr1Cor +, xrIo,, r L-1 .oa.
riding with him on the previous ave.
ming, and I shook my head as I thought
how hot-blooded and foolish 1t all was.
I am not one myself always to run
away from the like invitations, but
with such business on han as root
Ing out the Red Men of the Dusk it
seemed to be a very i'll time to be turn
ing their weapons against each other.
1t is true that 1 was blessed, for
could / have enjoyed my way I would
never have had Owain go a yard from
his sister until she stood In safer cir
cumstances than the present. Yet 1
never reamed Of the bloody end to
which matters were shortly to run, but
waited TO see one or the other get a
scratch sufficient to satisfy all parties.
I have never known to this day what
the quarrel was about, but that 1t was
over a trivial affair 1 am assured by
the way the duel commenced, going
forward for a time more like a calm
fencing match than aught else.
This was greatly to my satisfaction,
for I felt certain that first blood would
settle the affair, and I observed, too,
that the seconds offered to en-
gage, as is commonly don in case Of
a serious quarrel. F.
Yet the tingle and crate Of cold steel
had, before long, its customary mad
dening effect. It excited even me. as I
stood in shelter of the larches: how
much more the actual combatants!
They gradually grew warmer, the
lunges became faster n ~fiercer, I
could hear their painting breaths at
each swift bound n rebound, and the
formal fitting swiftly merged into
deadly combat. :
I watched with all my eyes, longing
to see Owain safely through it, and
soon l heaved a sigh OF. relief. There
was no question as to the better, man,
n l saw that Owatn was completely
master of his opponents play. The lat
ter began to give ground, and Owain
followed steadily up. The losing mans
second, a short red-haired fellow, be-
gan to shout and scream In his excite
ment, seeming beside himself at pros
pect Of Owafn's victory.
Ihls ran conduct in a second
caused me to view him more attentive
ly. and I discovered a great likeness
between him and the fighting man. 1
judged them, and T found afterward
that I had Judged rightly. to be
brothers.
Lunge by lunge, Owain drove his op-
ponent back. and, suddenly engaging
him more 1ercely than ever, plucked
his sword from his grasp. The defeat
ed swordsman gave a shrtll, thin cry
upon Anding himself defenseless. put
up his hands and covered.
The little red fellow gave 9, horrible
yell like a mailman, leaped in, whip
ping out his sword az he sprang. and
drove 1t clean through Owaln's body.
My poor friend, already reaching for
ward, dropped on his face, bltndly
cropping the turf with his hands, and
gaapfng out blood and faint groaus..
For an instant he was the only ag-
ure, M heart stood suu, and { was