Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-09-12

Satisfied with his survey, the door
keeper slowly n leisurely slipped back
the ponderous bolts and drew the door
q little open. He glanced round to see
who would enter. when a sudden shin
ing sweep OF steel leaped upon him
from without, n a keen AK fastened
to a sp1kestaff Glove his skull through
and through. With a choking groan
the man, VINO the moment before had
smiled In my face like a child, rolled
across my feet, and with his fall the
door was hurled back, when, as silent
ly as a hawk sWoops. the Red Men of
the Dusk sprang in at me.
An instructive movement had already
placed my sword in my hand, and 1
met the leader with the point, lunging
with the play of my whole weight and
strength. Meeting no bone, the sword
went through his naked body as If L
had hrust at q curtain, and he dropped
on the threshold. At the same time,
though l knew ii not at the moment,
l gave a piercing cry which rang to
every corner of the house. I plucked
back my dripping sword, warded n
pikehcad thrust at my breast, cut,
thrust, warded again, and thanks to
the press in which my enemies had
wedged themselves at the door, every
man striving to enter first, held them
steadily for 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 aX and spearheads
aimed cOnfusedly at us. Not n single
shot so far had been fired, and the only
sound was the sharp clash and CRATE
of cold steel. Behind us L heard q bell
clamor out its shrill alarm and my
uncle's voice screaming orders, and the
clatter of feet as the garrison ran to
arms. Before us the half-naked saw
ages, their eyes cleaning like sparks
under their fells Of matted red hair,
pushed against us in q dreadful silence
like wild beasts, too ferocious to utter n
single warning ere they attack.
1t was but a few moments that they
impeded each other by their tangled
budding in the doorway, then a great
voice which we both knew called on
them from behind, and several fell
back, affording 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
to end OF the sky, and seemed to burst
in lambert foods through doorway and
windows; the hunder followed instant
Upon the flash, and, fighting with our
faces 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 flash
the voice Of Ieuan Gwyllt rang out
again, and the pikemen, agile as wild
cats, strong as lions, charged
~furiously Upon us. The superior reach
OF their weapons now told; and, though
once and again In the glancing light l
put aside q pikehead with my sword, n
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, and
1 was dragged from the tangle of feet
before l could urn 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 have
the entrance; the other they must not
have"
Never" said I, and we FASTENED
back.
The stairs ran up midway of the hall
n facing the door At the top of the
first fight was q square gallery, n
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 thu
entrance. Enid, her faithful Siani close
at hand, stood Te~SOluteiy at the stair
rail; as we fell back we waved our
hands, and n white smile shoue on her
face. We placed ourselves at the stai'
foot, and a shrill cry Of delight broke
out behind us. | 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 n slip" said ], and
glanced his way. The sky opened as [
did so, and the murky acknowledged
place was filed with Il glare beyond
monday. My uncle was biting his
thumb anG looking down upon me
darkly. Owain began to shout com
mands in Welsh. w men armed with
muskets were darling up and down on
the edge of the fray like terriers round
n badger hole, watching for a chance to
help Their fellows with shot. At OWa!n's
call they ran back to him, and he post
ed them IN the gallery above and gave
then. orders. All this, which has t" ken
some time In telling, but took little In
CllC uOlI'E, anu lHIODSu II ali llt VII
tie ragged, on our side with great shouts
and heavy cries, on the other side with
a silence and mute feroCity ineXprrSs-
IDLY dreadful. l lifted my eyes and saw
Miss Vaughan leaning oVvr the rail.
Our g~lanCes met, and she spoke. her
clear voice coming easily to my ears
through the tumult.
Are YOU hurt, Master H]eathcote?"
said she.
Not in the least" l laughed back;
II was bAt pushed down."
"Ha!'~CrieW Owain at my side. |
turned M mead and saw tina our men
were giving little by little, and now
there appeared, breaking his way easily
through the fight, the tail, sinewy form
of Ieuan Gwylit. To him this was
mere play. He intercepted cut, thrust,
stab, and repaid them with deadly in
t~erest, as a man might hew his way
through a crowd of children. He was
eagerly glancing from side to side, and
the first noise upon their side of the
battle was the roar of dreadful Joy he
@