Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-09-10
"Geoffrey Heathcote, Esq"
BY JOHN FINNMORE Copyright 1892 by Mcclure Coz


Satisfied With his survey, the door,
keeper slowly and leisurely slipped hack
the pondercuS bolts ant. drew the door
Il little open. He glanced round to see
who would enter, when u sudden SHIN
ing cweep of steel leaped upon him
from without, and q keen aN fastened
to splkestaff Glove his Skull through
and through. With n choking groan
the man. VINO the moment before had
smiled in my face like q 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 l
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 il 1
had thrust at curtain, and he dropped
on the threshold. At the same time,
though / knew it not at the moment
1 gave piercing cry which rang to
every corner of the house. plucked
back my dripping sword, warded Il
pikehead 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-
dulred to bring Owain to my side. His
blade flashed past my shoulder and
plunged swiftly again and again into
the medley of ak 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 heard a 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
pushed against us in dreadful silence
like wild beasts, too ferocious to utter a
single warning ere they attack
1t was but 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, affordfng 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 lambent floods through doorway and
windows; the thunder 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 pkemen, agile as Wild
cats, strong as mountain lions charged
furiously upon us. The superior reach
OF their weapons now told; and, though
once and again in the glancing light |
put aside pikehaad with my sword,
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. i felt two hands
thrust themselves into my collar, and
I was dragged from the tangle of feet
before i could turn myself to rise.
Are you hurt?" cried Owain in my
ear.
"A mere scratch" said 1, springng
up; 1.-THE point caught in my doublet.
"Then we will fail back and guard
the stair foot said Owain. They have
the entrance; the other they must aot
have
Never" said 1. and we fastened
back.
The stairs ran up midway OF the hail
and facing the door. At the top of the
mere ,,s.. .,,stiieIse. a q.
of women, clinging To each other, and
now looking upon, now turning their
heads from the medley of fight AT tn
entrance Enid her Faithful Siani close
at hand, stood lesouteiy at the stair
rail; as we fen back we waved our
hands, and a white smile shoae on her
face. We placed ourselves at the star.
foot, and 4 shrill cry of delight broke
out behind US. / turned my head and
saw my uncle two on three steps up.
stand to it, nephew" he cried, and
beat them off And yet he added,
| and his tone seemed one Of chagrin, II
saw YOU fan.
Twas but a slip" said l. and
glanced his way. The sky opened as !
| did so, and the murky yellow ligh
| place was filled with glare beyond
MONDAY. My uncle was biting his
| thumb anG looking down upon me
darkly Owain began to shout COM
nands in Welsh Two men armed with
muskets were darting UP and down on
the edge of the fray like terriers round
badger hole, watching FOR a chance to
| help their fellows with shot. AT OWEN
| cali they ran back to him, and he post
| ed them on the sallery above and gave
| them orders All this, which has taken
some time In telling. but took little ill
| the doing, and through IT all the bat
| Tie ragged, on our side with great shouts
| and heavy cries. on the other side with
n silence and mute lerocity ineNpross-
| IDLY dreadful. | lifted my eyes ard saw
| Miss Vaughan leaning ov.r the rail
! oar chances met. and she spoke, her
clear voice coming easily to my ears
/ through the tunult.
Are >ou hurt, Master lIeathcote?'
said she.
"Not In the least" ] laughed back
Il was but pushed down
"lia." criew Owain at my side.
/ turned my head and saw that our nel
were giving little by little, and nov
:. there appeared, breaking his way easily
through the fight, the tai, sineWy form
OF Ieuan Gwylit. TO him this wa:
mere play. He Intercepted cut thrust
stab, and repaid them with deadly i'm
terest. as a man might hew his WA,
| through a crowd OF children. He wa!
eagerly climbing from side Ia side anc
the first noise upon their side of tn
battle vas the roar of dreadful JOY h
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