Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-08-08
By JOHN FINNIMORE.
CHAPTER ~.
I FIGHT FOR MY LIFE.

WOulu chClldDke u lew pd6ScS. ScI-
tainly I did o feel inclined to escape
on the terms offered.
He threw down his doublet and ]
stripped off my riding coat. He placed
himself IN position and nourished his
heavy sword about his head as II wav-
Ing a bullrush.
In height and reach we were fairly
matched, and, as our swords clashed
together, / forgot his mean appear
ance, and whether he were entitled to
the honors of the duel, and only tasted
the keen JOY of the play, offense n
defense. of the two shining points.
/ crossed swords with the intention
possible. blu In a my easy
confidence banished. Ragged shirt and
leather breeches Notwithstanding, /
had met with a master OF fence. 1T
the outset / tried upon him o pass
which had never failed me. He knew
the only possible return and played 1t
perfectly, and / barely saved my wrist.
My confidence. as I have said. van
ished in one minute. In two. I was
strictly on the defensive. In three. 1
was fighting for my life.
Come" said he, holding me at dis
lance easily. and speaking In a quiet,
pleasant tone: Come. now, give me
the word that I am the best man. and
you shall go without any danger"
49, NNN h"oN OeN PNSS~S - AAeN ~~N
on the defensive, hut, as he dropped
}ack on making this offer. / rushed on
him n attempted TO burst through
his guard at all hazards. That the
trick was a mad one. / knew well
enough. but 1t was the only one left
me.
I sent him back a full yard before he
regained his command OF the play. and
then he set his teeth, and with O wild
yell drove at me In deadly earnest.
Once, twice, / turned aside. the darling
steel, but II was as much as I could do
to answer those swift, dreadful thrusts.
He was my master and the best man,
sure enough. I knew It now, but to
confess II was another matter, and I
fought doggedly on, my only object be-
ing to stave off the inevitable end as
long as possible.
Suddenly, the clatter of flying clogs
broke out on our left. It was some one
running swiftly down the stony road,
but 1 had neither the time nor inclina-
ton to turn my head. We had first
crossed swords on a level patch a few
yards from a bank, the crest Of which
sloped on upward, but we had now
worked close H. and In another moment
my hostess appeared on the rise above
US.
Without checking herself. she heaped
upon my opponent from above, drop
ping %squarely upon his shoulders, and
instantly winding her bare, powerful
arms about his neck. Under her weight
and the impetus Of her flying leap,
striking him as she did like Q stone
from q catapuit. my enemy had no
chance at all.
rolled In a tangle at my feet. For my
part, I slapped my sword home and
placed my hands behind me Amid q
fearful clatter Of tongues from both
of the fallen, he sprang to his feet and
scrambled round for the sword which
had flown from his hand.
Come again." he cried, menacing me
with the weapon, "or perhaps you have
had enough"
why, as TO that" returned I, IF I
had been inclined to take advantage Of
chances. you would have had much
more than enough"
TT ISIS very true he Joined, drop
ping his point, you could have done
me much mischief when I wass son
the ground. What iss on this woman?"
Tho woman had never ceased to ply
her tongue busily. and To- something
she said drew his fixed attention.
returned at nee TO the house, for I
was shivering bitterly. I was still far
from comfortably dry. and the chill
wind struck through n through me.
| put on my coat n drew my seat
49, ~ liz 5ANNAh6 NNh
In a short time my antagonist and
the woman came in.
We'll. WELL" he cried. spreading out
his hands; yes, she ISIS right. The
woman ISIS right. She Is thinking Of
what you have done for the little boy,
and 1t iss natural that she should have
for you a strong and tender feeling. II
I had known that before. I should
never say bad words to you and try for
q quarrel. Oh, no, never at all"
Say no more" said /; 'all's we'll
hat ends we'll"
My hostess came and patted my
shoulder, and I pressed her hand. We
could not talk together, but for all that
we were at no loss to come to an I'M
Outstanding. She now heaped on fresh
fuel, light, woody turf, which caught
instantly and Threw UP leaping blue
flames, n the rood. pleasant warmth
ran through my blood like a cordial.
My antagonist seated himself and fell
:cto a r~everie. brooding over his side Of
the Ire. The woman swung over il q
huge iron pot half full of water, and
began vely slowly to pour in oatmeal.
stirring all the while. and for a time
there was silence. Then he looked UP.
Yes said he. "the love OF the
mother for the child. 1t iss the strong
est of them all. I have just been try
ing to remember some verses I have
Llaut upOl lHdI SUBJECT.
So he makes verses, does he, thought
this unkempt. tattered fellow. whose
s~wordplay Is go dreadful, and I eyed
him with wonder curiosity, know
ing then but little Of the Welsh.
He remained silent for a moment,
stroking his beard. and then began to
recite. Understanding none Of the
words. 1 observed the more exactly the
musical flow of his low, mellow voice.
His 9nRech WAS nf n trnth rhVfhn1iN
1t flowed and flowed as smoothly as a
slow river over sand. with barely a
trace of the harsh gutturals so prom
inent in their conversations.
My hostess stirred her porridge slow
er and slower and then stopped, wood
en- spoon in hand. and listened. her
face set in rapt attention toward the
speaker. That his subject was a NOV
Ing one. I judged by his low, pathetic
utterance n the tender pity which
shone In the bright dark eyes of the
listening woman. His voice died away
softly and she sighed and returned to
her porridgo.
"The verses" said he to me. ARE
upon the death of q little boy, q hild
to my sister. She had only the one,
and was much troubled to lose him; so
/ made the song to comfort her. In
deed, now, she knows 1t better than l
do. / am saying in 1t that she would
rather hear his voice than the song of
the mountain brook after rain, that he
loved a little bow and q wooden sword,
and to play in the white sand. and how
he ran to hide his face against her side
from the pwbach. What is pwbach in
English?" he ask ed.
How can l ell" said I. You must
explain a little"
We'll. perhaps some man shall dress
himself In a strange fashion and black
his face. and go about to make a Joke;
that Is It,"
why" said /, DOGGY. or some such
word as that, we should say in Eng
lish."