The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1903-09-18
CHAPTER. XII.
THE FIGHT IN THE HALL

THE FIGHT IN THE HALL.
After the attack upon From and our
meeting with Them in Cwm Cul, the
Red Men of the Dusk vanished as mys-
teriously as they had appeared. Every
day my uncle waited eagerly for fresh
news Of their movements, but none
came, and, little by little, as will hap
pen Wnen ones attention has been
strained keenly to no effect, the
thought Of them almost passed from
my mind.
1t was full three weeks later, when
one day. about o'clock of a bitterly
cold afternoon, it began to snow in
lowering sky. Almost with the first
flakes came very vivid flash of
lightning and a great peal of thunder,
and within a short time furious storm
was raging. Surely summer tempest
never saw lightning dart more sharp
~, or heard more deafening crashes
from the sky, and through it all snow
fell, not heavily, but steadily.
There Is something in my blood
which does not permit me to be still
when such turmols are raging. Were l
compelled to remain without moving
from one spot, I believe I should chafe
myself to death, and SO, after my usual
custom, moved from window to VIM
dow, watching the storm as well as the
uneasiness is a family trait, for my I'M
Gle was equally disturbed and was pac-
ing his library end for end, his books
thrown on one side, and returning only
a pettish, snarling answer when spoken
to; Enid was above stairs in her own
room; and Owain, whom the weather
did not disturb, was seated comforta-
bly, by the fire, fitting a new roWel into
afSpur.
+ AS it happened. I went out into the
hall and found the man who was
charged to watch the door, for my
uncle kept someone on guard always,
trying to light a large, clumsy lamp
which hung there. Although the lamp
had been made of a considerable big
ness, yet the bungling workman had
rcontrived but a small door to 1t, SO the
man was thrusting in two fingers, and
between them piece Of glowing turf,
upon which he blew to kindle the wick
AS 1 stood there, smiling to see the
'uncorcern with which he handled
naked fire. his horny fingers, I sup
posed, being almost devoid OF sense
he looked up and caught my eye just
as the wick smoked, and then fared
brightly. I nodded to him in token OF
his triumph. and he, having no Eng
lish, yet seeing plainly what meant
touched his forehead in salute and
smiled all over his broad, simple face
At that moment there came in regu-
lar order the taps upon the door which
my uncle had arranged that those be
longing to the house should use after
lnightfall The man went to a grating
drew back the panel, and peered out
and I went also and glanced over his
shoulder. The night had SO far faller
that he might have peered in vain hac
not the sky opened with a broad sheet
of flame. BY the light of the flash 9
man was seen, bareheaded, and no sigr
of weapons about him, raising his han6
as If to knock again, and looking like
lone who had been short distance or
Ian errand.
Satisfied with his survey, the door.
keeper slowly and leisurely slipped hacl
the ponderous bolts and drew the dool
la little open. He glanced round to SCI
who would enter, when sudden shin
ing sweep of steel leaped upon hin
from without, and a keen AK fastened
ito splkestaff Glove his skull through
and through. With a choking groaI
the man, VINO the moment before hat
smiled in my face like a child, rollet
across my feet, and with his fall thu
door was hurled back, when, as silent
lily as hawk swoops. The Red Men o
the Dusk sprang in at me.
An instructive movement had alread,
placed my sword in my hand, and
met the leader with the point, lungini
with the play of my whole weight an.
strength. Meeting no bone, the swort
went through his naked body as if
had thrust at curtain, and he droppet
on the threshold. AT the same time
though / knew 1t not at the moment
II gave piercing cry which rang. t
every corner of the house. plucke'
back my dripping sword, warded
p!kehead thrust at my breast GU.