The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-12-09
-o1, tbrouoh now IF he chooses"

you through now if he chooses"
tsBut he has moi" the count cried,
springing to where his sword had
fallen and snatching it up.
"Sir count" here spoke Ruric
calmly, but with marked contempt.
"you should not blame me for what
! I have done, for thrice have you
tried to break my sword"
sSThen try it again!" Damonoff
returned. ''Take my sword again if
you can"
perhaps not" our hero retorted-
teBut be sure your sword shall be
used no more after this day."
cha! Brag not, but strike. If
you cam
The conclusion Of the sentence
was drowned by the clash Of steel.
At the second stroke the count
made another furious thrust at his
antagonists heart. Ruric sprang
quickly aside, and with the whole
power of his good right arm he
struck Damonof's blade close to the
haft and broke it in twain.
sMy other sword, my other
sword!' the count shouted, now
blinded by absolute madness. "Oh,
give me my other
sHoldp' cried both the surgeon
and Stephen Urzen in concert. SsYou
are mad, Conrad"
sMad? Oh, I shall be mad!
Where is my sword % the reckless
man yelled, casting the bladeless
pommel down.
''But will you not listen one'-
"Away, l say! Shall I give up be-
cause my sword is broken? By the
gods, the weapon deceived me.
Where is the other?'
Deceived thee, Conrad? ?" repeat
ed the surgeon sarcastically. S'By
the Holy Ghost, had thy head but
received a hundredth part of the
blow 'twould not be upon thy shoul-
ders nowp'
But the count was beyond all rea
son. In his madness he saw not that
his sword had been broken on pur-
pose. He did not see that he had
been at his antagonists mercy. But
his friends saw it all.
"Hal Whom have we here~ cried
Alaric, whose eye had caught dark
form at the entrance Of the old
building.
It was Vladimir, the monk.
'How now? What seek ye here?"
asked Urzen as the fat, burly monk
waddled toward the party.
81 heard the clash of arms, my
son, as I rode by, and I stopped to
see what it was. Surely where the
work of death is going on child Of
the holy church of God may come"
"Aye," cried the count. "Come in
and welcome, but meddle not. NOW,
my sword, where is it? ?"
Reluctantly Urzen brought for
ward the second sword, but ere ne
gave it up he said:
Beware, Conrad. You had bet
ter
'Peace, babbler.,o the excited fool
Kissed, snatching the weapon and
then turning quickly upon the gun
maker.
Thus far Ruric had remained 81
lent, but he felt it his duty to speak
now.
ssSir count" he said in tone so
stern and authoritative and with a
look so commanding that the other
was held in allegiance by it, Il must
speak one word. You have provok-
ed quarrel with me, and you have
challenged me- | have no fear OF
death when duty calls for my life,
but I would not die thus, nor would
I slay fellow being thus. Six sep
arate times today since our swords
first crossed have I spared your
ife"-
sLiar!w
-"and twice have I had you be-
fore me unarmed,'' Ruric continued
without noticing the interruption.
'I had hoped this would have shown
you that sought not harm to you
and, furthermore, that you were no
match for me at this kind of work"
'sOut, foolw yelled Damonoff, now
fairly frothing with rage. "lf you
dare not cross swords again, say SO,
but do not crawl off like coward
t<One word more" altered Ruric,
paling for an instant beneath the
unmerciful insult Of the senseless
tongue that assailed him, and he
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