The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-11-06
"Geoffrey Heathcote, Esq"
By JOHN FENNIMoRE. (copyright 1899, by S. S. Mcclure Coz

a ~ VIZ 't"A " SAfS "'y
and the advantage "a mine if swiftly
followed up. l promise you 1 made no
laEsard business Of it. ! had not for
gotten the duellist's advice to his
brother when I lay under Whitesock,
and, knowing he was the more danger
GUS enemy. 1 gave him the point with
my full weight behind it, running him
clean through, and slashing the other
severely across the shoulder of his
sword arm.
Down went the first, all in a heap,
and the second staggered back. The
big fellow with the torch bounded at
me like a wolf, striking madly at me
with the blazing brand. So sudden was
his attack that the leaping flame was
at my eyes before I could pull myself
together to meet his new mode of war;
fare.
I raised my arm and he struck 1t fur
iously with the great splinter of burn
ing bog-wood. The light, 1aky wood
shattered into a thousand fragments.
covering me with suarks and flaming
finder, while I repaid him with a thrust
which drove him bowling back. With
a few hasty sweeps Of the hand, 1
freed myself from the shreds of the
torch, n stood to my guard again.
1t was some moments before l could
see clearly, for the glare OF the flame
had daZZled my eyes. Where my nem-
les were | knew not. and I swung my
sword from wall to wall, high and low
before me, to be sure that all was clear
In my front. AS my eyes began to do
their wonted service I heard a drag
ging noise, M saw the t~orch-bearer
drawing away the body of the duelliSt,
who began to utter choking grpans as
he was moved. The other man had al
ready retreated and, though it would
have been cas- for me to cut off the
WE 81 y otl ,~t --,1l 80 E,-l -
In my heart to ~attacksthe faithful fell
low, who, wounded himself, was succor-
ing his master.
l trampled out the glowing fragments
which Uttered the floor, drew a deep
breath, n thought gratefully Of the
stout-hearted Siani guarding the WIN
dow within. But for her my case would
be hopeless. A single assailant in the
rear would make q swift end Of the bus
mess. The day was now wearing on,
n the light grew fainter in the gal
lery, and in consequence my narrow
fortress became duskier than ever.
Five. ten minutes passed, and no
fresh attempt was set on foot. l posted
myself at the angle and kept a keen
lookout, but saw no one. A continued
mutter Of voices warned me that plenty
of foes were lurking near the narrow
entrance to my den, but they gave no
other sign of their presence.
Suddenly l jumped in sheer fright.
My nerves were strained to expect but
n thing and that was a rush from The
gallery, when q loud hollow stroke rang
at my elbow or the other side of the
wall upon which I leaned. 1 shook with
surprise. Several ~du1l-soundlng blows
were given, and then clang! clang! an
iron bar rang upon stone. 1 was at no
loss to explain their movements, and
bit my under lip till the blood ran, as l
cudgelled my perplexed brain for some
way of meeting this clever plan. My
enemies were within a couple Of feet
of me, knocking a hole in the wall.
They had skilfully chosen a point
which would rake the lower end of the
passage. Once a gap was made they
had but to thrust the muzzle of a mus
ket through, NJ my flank was turned
my fortress u%ntenable.
Luckily, the partition walls of that
stout old house were soundly build OF
quaEried stone, and the clinking bar
fore it ere the plaster on my side would
be reached.
To retreat to the room behind me
was useless. 1t was big enough to ad.
nit a score to hack at me, and I dis.
missed the idea instantly. 1 sent my
thoughts out and ran in mind over thu
whole house, with which 1 had become
HoitS SdlISlS , Tue NlGt
stairs, the hall, the ponderous door, thu
hillside without, these strung them
selves before my inner eye, and l won,
dered II a dash We're possible. But
could not help shaking my head as
counted the risks. OF a sudde m,
thoughts, as it seemed of their owl
will, turned and ran upstairs. I say
the flights Of broad shallow steps, tn
long corridor on the next floor, wit
its rows of doors opening to the gar
rets where slept and retain
ers, a clumsy ladder leading to a ira,
door which gave entrance to a cham
Der in the roof, and I caught my breat
at the idea which flashed into my mint
AN impregnable fortress though
: I; could 1 but reach it, an impregna
BILE fortress. They dare do nothing bu
! starve me out of 1t. and much migf
, happen before then"
I felt a burning eagerness to try m
, fate at once. I slipped out of my boot
tied my sword to my wrist by a ke1
chief, for fear it should be struck frol
my hand, took a tight grip Of my loade
y pistol and made a cautious step or tW
u down the outer end Of the passag
= Inch by inch I drew on until I was b,
: a yard from the mouth, and 1 felt su,
- that none of the guard was very clio:
t to the opening. Then, like a hare fro
> her form, I darted out at full speed.
- "A AoSh Va " AhoS I'll opp al
Y a dozen men sprang at me at ono
3 Two or three pistols were fired at raj
dom, but the balls went wide of m
and I passed clean through the crow
y to the further side of the gallery. E
: cry one of the band stationed here W;
at once filled with the same idea.
y They V dreamed but hat I w
rushing for the stairs n hall, al
they swung in a yelling wave to t
d stair-head to cut me Off, This play
y, my game to a nicely, and left full
k open the flight on the opposite 81
leading to the next floor. Up I wei
1T three steps at a bound, followed by
1 second cry Of surprise at seeing n
d as they thought, plunge deeper in
ID the trap. Then there was a thundero
lie pounding Of heavy boots as tn
charged after me. But my start w
st too good, and, when the first face a
peared at the head of the stairs, I w
ID already lifting the trap.
ut I flung it back, bounded in. hurled t
tn unfastened ladder down with a era
or TO the boards below, and roared t
he umphantly: Nov, I am your mast
IS Lay but a finger on that ladder to Fl