Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-09-12
ave when he saw Sir Arthur on the

heads. The garrison was being stead
lily driven back, and 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
lin Welsh to the musketeers.
l 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 own
men, n they were as likely to hit
friend as foe.
1 searched the landing once more
with my eye and saw the reason of the
shots following one on another so close
ly as they had done. Several spare
firelocks were leaning ready to the
hands of the men, and We're 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
Dusk, whom / had observed in the fight
close at Ieuan's back
"Tll take I%euan," said I; you take
the big man."
mo, no. said Owain, but chance set
tied it as I had said. Ny uncle had
posted himself behind me, having seen
me beat Owain one or twice at friendly
trials of fence, and euan darted for
him. l sprang out to meet him, and
our swords dashed together once more.
leuaitS eyes were mere holes in his
head through which white flames
peered, he churned his teeth like a wild
boar, so that his great red beard was
all b~eslavered with foam, his nostrils
were black and wide, and he was dead
ly cool.
Stand away said he, holding my
point easily, as before, and give me
that bad old man behind you, and we
will go from the house; yes, every one"
My uncle was beyond speech. He
was uttering small odd noises, like a
wild animal caught in a gin.
l made the only reply possible to
leuan's offer, n that was to engage
him more desperately than ever. He
hung back for a moment, watching my
wrist. then, with a trick of fence OF
which l had never seen the like, he
plucked my sword from my grip. and
heard 1T tinkle against the root.
1 sprang at him with my naked
hands but he dropped his point,
clenched his great, hairy fist, and met
me with n tremendous blow. 1t Just
missed my throat, took me on the
breast bone and hurled me backward
on the stairs. MY uncle fled upstairs,
screaming, and Ieuan leaped after him,
his sword appraised.
With n sharp, brittle sound q ball
from above shattered the sword to
pieces near the hilt, and, in his rag
Ieuan flung what remained in his hand
at the marksman. The second piece
was now laid upon him, and Ieuan, call
culating as ever in the midst of his
rage, turned and darted back.
The man, fearing to hit one Of us,
shot wide, n the bullet buried itself
In the oaken WainsCoting. AS Ieuan flew
down, | was just scrambling to my
feet, and Owain was driving his big
opponent before him.. In the body Of
the hall our men were quickly regain
ing their lost ground; and, looking out
upon them, l noticed for the first time
chat the place was filled with a bright
dancing light, shining in redly at the
windows.
The cause was in full sight. The
lightning had fired an clubhouse, which
was blazing furiously. AS l have said,
our men were now gaining the upper
hand, for the constant shower of balls
from the maTksmen posted on the
gallery, both deadly shots, had thinned
the ranks OF the Red Men Of the Dusk.
leuan ran down the hall, lodged one or
two blows aimed at him, caught up a
pike from the hands of a man huddled
on the flags, and placed himself at the
head Of his followers. | scrambled for
my sword, which had fallen within
two yards OF me, and glanced at Owain.
At the same instant he looked at me.
"A rush now woul break them," he
said.
'Ieuan Is beginning to draw them
OFF, ! answered. 1t was even so. His
band looked strangely reduced, though
none had been seen TO ny, and hey
were now outnumbered. Making dread
ful play with his pike, he was moving
steadily back. OWain turned his head
ana shouted to the two men on the
gallery. They ceased firing at the enc
my and laid their weapons to cover the
stair foot.
Now" cried Owain, and we flung
ourselves into the midst of the FRAY,
shouting and slashing our maddest and
hardest. Our advent gave renewed
heart to the men of Nant-y-Bryn. II |
was like plucliing up their spirits with
a trumpet, and they charged with a
mighty shout. For some minutes the
struggle was still waged desperately.
but now we fought as men fight who's
victory is ssured, The subtle wine of
triumph mounted to our brains and
drove US carelessly upon the foe. There
was no gradual slackening Of the bat
tie. The Red Men of the Dusk held
their own without finching, till, of a
sudden, they gave wholly and COM
pietely, like q ban Of mist before a
strong wind, and we poured through
the doorway, chasing an enemy whose
speed made 1t a folly to pursue. Out
side, great sheets of flame were leap
ing up into the blackness of the diving
storm. The fire had spread to a wood
en- granary, but the whole camp was
detached and could injure nothing else.
The ground was covered with q thin.
smooth sheet of snow, taking the CLEAN
Of the fire ruddily and making the place
light as day.
Heated with combat l ran with sew
eral others thirty or forty yards from
the door upon the heels of the flying
foe before | recovered enough sense to
desist. To think Of catching them was
useless, and l stopped and lifted up my |
face to the grateful cold of the night. |
Behind me the muskets cracked again
and again as shots were fired at the
dark figures of the Red Men of the
Dusk gliding up the whitened hill.
drew a deep breath and looked round
upon the shining scene, when q gunshot
echoed from the house, n | felt as IL
a stream of fire were passing across
my bare head. A strange weakness
came over my limbs, a great buzzing
sounded in my ears, and / pitched for
ward into n little ditch upon the brink
OF which / had paused.