Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-07-25

, she spoke the kings English and /
could converse with her, / 1new she
would not neigh or make the slightest
sound.
Creeping thus, I reached a clump of
brambles from which / Judged the
track should be in sight. Nor was l
wrong. Peering cautiously through a
thin place, my eye X q stretch or
road, and there, credit me. was my
Egyptian, dancing a saraband on the
crown of the causeway, while three
swarthy rufflans lay on the bank.
Two were lying idly, the third slapping
his leg and swapping his fingers In
time to the girls twinking feet and
flying pettieoats.
A moving figure beyond caught my
eye, and / saw a fourth man come
round the end and run nimbly toward
them. My glance was of the group for
barely a second, but when I looked
again the girl was alone. The runner
came up, spoke a few words to the
Egyptian, then vanished into the cover
and the scarlet figure flung itself on
the bank where her companions had
been lying.
Some three or four minutes
passed, then the bunch Of ponies
and travellers came In sight.
As they approached, the Egyptian
began to groan heartily, as one in sore
ickness or distress. / held my post
and watched, for l did not wish to in
terfere unless absolute need should
arise. Meanwhile the riders came on,
and the Egyptian groaned.
When they were close upon her, the
figure upon the hank feigned to be con
scio-s 10. the first time Of their pres
ence. Half-raising herself. she held out
her arms with an imploring gesture,
then fell back. The ponies were stayed
opposite, and, at q word from one OF
the riders, the tall man with the car
Dine gave up the rein OF the led pony
n went to the Egyptian.
AS he came up TO her she crouched
lower on the ground. He spoke to her,
and bent over her. With the speed OF
bought she turned and flung q slip
moose over his head. The rope, In
stently tautened by an accomplish on
the other side Of the thicket, ran tight
about his neck, and with a ~strangling
cry he pitched forward on his face.
I sprang to the saddle, and, sword in
hand, drove Whitesock forward at the
gallop, for the real cry of distress had
been 81 signal for the four men to
spring from their ambush, and the 1T
tie party was surrounded.
But as l rode forward, l shouted with
delight to see what had happened.
The two women at bay turned on their
attackers with all the courage OF Anna
IONS. One leaped from her pony and
few to the fallen man, and / saw the
shine Of a knife in her hands. With
one deft blow she severed the choking
cord, and before the Egyptian could
turn TO escape, with a single swift turn
Of the wrist slashed the decoy clean
across her naked bosom.
The Egyptian fed, screaming, the
flowing of blood darKening her scar
let bodice. The other rider sat her
pony steadily and discharged w pis-
tolls at the foe. These were both fired
at the two men behind. who were the
nearer assailants.
The two in front, amazed to find
Whitesock sweeping down on them like
a thunderpolt, nevertheless lodged
nimbly to the one side, and swung their
hangers In readiness. Both eyed me
as cool as possible, one on either hand
I saw their intention at once. Which
ever drew my stroke. the other would
leap IN and endeavor TO hamstring the
mare.
Now l had as lief they should ham
string me as Whitesock, and so / feint-
ed the Ieft-hand rogue, who jumped
back, and then brought my sword
down like lightning on the right-hand
fellow as he sprang in. The blade took
him fairly across the skull, but his hat
was stiffened with some pieces OF met
al, for | felt the sword did not bite.
The force of the blow drove him head
long to the ground. and his hanger fell
harmless.
drew rein, and WhiteSock came to
n stand within q yard Of the ponies. /
looked round, but our fight was fought.
The footpads had not bargained for
this, and they fastened TO beat a re-
trea. Three of them vanished ut
once; one carried q couple Of slugs in
his shoulder from the second pistol, the
fourth, whom / cut down, regaintng
his senses after q few moments and
staggering into the bushes.
At a nearer view, | saw the horse
women were both girls. That is to
say, the one with the bloody knife in
her hand certainly was; and the other.
though she kept her face closely muf-
fled In the cape of her gray cloak, l
judged to much of the same age. They
were clad in thick country homespun,
new and warm. and looked like farm
er's daughters in their holiday attire.
I'VE are much indebted to o sir"
said the one who had remand in the
saddle, In q low, clear, pleasant voice,
and thank you heartily for your
help
You are very welcome" said I,
though indeed I think you are very
capable Of defending yourselves"
I'VE had shot out bolt, l fear" she
ISluI llCN lld DIdlll . Ill oull
have awaited but little against swords"
For myself, ! looked upon SIAM with
interest. She brought 10 mind the
Welsh woman of whom I had read in
the historics-the women whose long
knives were as dreadful as the swords
of the warriors. She was a short, stout
girl, squarely planted on her feet, her
eye bright with the fire Of danger and
battle, gripping her knife like a dag
ger, nor was 1t unlike a dagger, having
a blade six inches long, two bingers
broad and the end slightly curved, and
whetted to a keen edge.
1.-The Egyptian," said 7. will have
to cover her bosom for thefuture, or be
forever i~nventing lies OF how she came
by that scar.
At this moment the bodyguard sat
UP and began rubbing his throat. Dis
mounting, / looked at his neck. and
found that the rope had left a purple
mark, and, had II not been for that
timely stroke of the knife, he would
have marched no more In attendance
on damsels. His carbine was gone. 1t
had doubtless been carried off by the
ambush who had been placed there to
tug the cord.
In a few minutes he was ready to
march, and off we moved, for the owe
was so thick that had one of them re-
turned with the stolen gun he might
have marked us down as thirty yards
with perfect safety to himself. A few
minutes brought us - the open, and
a mile further I perceived that my
was no longer a necessity to
them. Houses and farms began to
come into sight, and l determined 10
push forward.
"Do you know the country running
northwestward from Rhayader through
the hills ?" said / to the girl who spoke
English.
"I do" she replied.
How lucky" said I. II wish to
travel in hat direction. Are the roads
good2"
There are none" said she, b u