The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-10-30

coat. I caught 1t up, rolled 1t up round
my left arm and ran in on them as
they stood together. Both sprang al
me, and l aimed to take the seconds
point with the coat while I played the
murderer and drove my blade home.
At the very instant of attack, the
Second changed his style, whirled w
his sword and cut me over the head
I had given up my thoughts too much
to the other man, and though / raised
my arm n broke much OF the blow
yet 1t lighted fairly along my green
wound, and the blood spurted as from
o fountain.
The pain of a still raw woun hacked
open again was most exquisite, yet for
a few moments l held my ground. Then
q swift dizziness came over me and
reeled and fell. A shout OF savage joy
burst from the red mans lips, and he
pressed forward to make his wicked
plan good, when there was an unearth-
ay scream Of rag from the wood, and,
with a fierce thud of flying hoofs,
Whitesock, her great discolored teeth
laid bare and iron heels ready for in
stant action, dashed in to the rescue.
She was just in time and no more. AS
h bestrode my body. the weapon that
had taken Owain's life was levelled at
mine, but her sweeping kicks swiftly
drove the enemy back.
The first keen agony OF the wound
passed, but I felt unable to rise, so sick
and giddy was l.. Whitesock turned
her big, bright eyes on me and
raised my hand. She laid her velvet
muzzle against it for an instant. then
looked warily round again. I had left
her browsing among the withered herb
age of the wood, and she must for
awhile nave remained ignorant that I
had run out into the open, or she would
have ollowed me at once She had
evidently caught sight OF me as I fell,
and OWNED that her aid was needed.
My enemies had no pistols. and 1 felt
sas safe from their sword as if l had
been in q castle, so I lay there wait
Ing for the Siddy feeling to pass off
before I got to my feet.
The duellist had by this time mopped
h blood out of his eyes, II he walked
unsteadily up to his companions. The
blade had taken him across the top Of
his forehead, n the flowing blood a
coated his face. 1t was now stiffening
and drying upon his cheeks, SO that his
eyes seemed to glare from a hideous
red mask.
ITS only q horse" he cried, run In
and stab him where he lies"
His brother took him at his word,
and ran in. He waved his sword in
the mares face as he dashed forward,
thinking to brighten her from her post,
but Whitesock stood steadily, her head
a little down. Then, of a sudden, she
reared ~furiously and stood bolt up
right on her hind legs; to my eyes, ly-
ing directly under her, she seemed as
tall as a tree. The murderer gave a
loud yelling laugh. thinking she had
reared TO wheel round and fly, out new
.er was n more fatal characterization
made. The first step that brought him
within striking distance saw the mares
forefeet dartod at him with Irresistible
fury. No Y in the ring ever plant
ed a blow more surely, or with a 1.-THE
OF the fearful force now employed. The
iron shod hoof. driven at lightning
speed by the mares tire nendous
strength. tool him fairly in the throat,
cutting short his laugh into a dreadfui
silence, n hurting him six or seven
yards. the body rolling over and over
time n again.
The duellist dropped his sword and
flew to his brother. He raised the hud-
died mass from the ground, then let 1t
fall again with Il loud cry. 1t rolled to
his feet II lay sprawling in limp and
uncouth attitudes. Had the murderer's
neck been closed in thrice-tempered
steel that awful blow must have broken
1t at once, and Owain was avenged.
This cowed the courage OF the re-
naming two. and they stood despond-
emily over the dead body of their COM
panion. l lifted my hand and hooked
my fingers into a Stirrup Swingin,
above my face. and dragged myself UP.
Whitesock stood like a statue as
scrambled to my feet, and then
aeaned upon the saddle, the scene be-
fore me swaYing in time to the keen,
darting bursts Of pain which swept
through my head.
Some minutes passed thus, and
voices came to my ear. l turned q lit
Sle and saw with giddy injurious eyes
a whole train Of figures Fastening
coward us.
Then my mind cleared at a stroke as
Il saw Enid hurst from the throng, run
swiftly forward. and fling herself or
the earth beside Owain's body.
A confused babel of tongues arose
some crying out in wonde horror
some demanding explanations, Others
exchanging threats, for men of hotf
bands had come up. and the sight o,
their young leaders slain aroused saw.
g wrath. l saw the tall old man wht
had been In attendance upon Enid thu
hrst time l met her, pointing and talk.
ing furiously, and gesticulating as If h,
had witnessed the affair and was nov
describing 1t. but I understood nothin,
he said.
saw my uncle with wondering, half,
frightened glances at me, talking ear
nestly with the two survivors Of tn,
duelling party, but it seemed Difficult
"a AiaSii " llUe Oull apuIn
into which the fail of their friend hat
thrown them. I saw threee men o
Nant-y-Bryn raise Owain's body care
fully. and bear 1t with slow steps to
var the house. Enid followed them
and I saw her face. 1t vas white an,
drawn in dreadful grief, but no tea
stood In her eyes. She looked towar,
me and at first there was no recogni
ton In her glance. Then the knowl
edge of me came into her look, and
perceived that she had never seen m
before nor dreamed that I was presen,
She came to g pause within a coupl
of yards of me-, her eyes bent upon m,
CORY face, n I lifted my hand.
Foul play" said I. In a voice whicl
thin and dry in my own ears
x saw 1t all from the spinney there, bu
tan In too late to save him from tn
treacherous stroke. The man who deal
It lie there. He will never strike fou
blow more"
The pain in my head doubled and re
doubled Its harsh. grinding fury.
chung tighter to the saddle, but in vair