Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-10-24

Instinctively they had spoken In Eng
lish, which Is used as q private lam
guage among the Welsh gentry, and so
let me into their plot. They would tax
advantage Of my appearance to slay
me as Owain's murderer, righteously
executed by them.
For q second my mind dwelt upon
the thoughts of his story recited in
Ends presence, and backed up by the
bodies of her lover and brother, then I
looked ABOUT upon them in the GRIM
NEST, dealiest earnest / eve felt in my
life. / whipped off n ] coat, and cast
my sword-belt loose. / fondled for an
instant the hilt of my trusty blade.
working my fingers round and round IL
in n tight and yet tighter grip, then
squared my shoulders and faced to my
work.
/ spoke no word TO them. Names,
were they never so truthful, were not
to the purpose for the moment. Men
who could act as they were acting
would be little moved ct hearing their
deeds rightly described. / hoped TO
balarce accounts with other coin.
Nc one had yet moved a step in my
direction. 1 was ringcd about on three
sides and IT seemed as il the task was
something too gross even for them to
put In hand instantly. l glanced round,
meeting each eye in turn and read con-
idenCe i'm Zach cruel and curious glance
that measured mo.
The certainty they felt about knock
ing me on the head was a point in my
favor, and 1 decided not to wait a COM
bined attack, when / must play three
points at once, a thing impossible on an
open field.
Turning short, I flew ut the murderer,
to whom / was yet tho nearest n
against whom my wrath burned hot
test. l was upoa him with a sudden
swiftncss which surprised myself. My
feet seemed winged; l felt rot the earth
under ne; my name was vengeance.
Ills small, foxy eyes burned like coal
as l loaped upon him, but he stood his
ground, ana prepared to receive me
upon his swordpoint.
Six feet from him I drove my heel
into he turf and checked myself dead.
He made HE stroke. | beat &c swiftly
aside and repaid ii with a famous bottle
d'Espagne, which had never failed me
but once, and then with leuan. This
fellow, however, WaC M Wild John, and
l passed MS guard without a check. Yet
/ failed TO I'll him through as I had in
tended, for he VAS as nimble as a Wild
cat and lodged the fatal blow, taking
his point in his shoGlder, and that but
slightly.
] had no tine to mend the thrust, for
'PSAA wv AAAFNA'N AAlN "a w lNAA M
= / was compelled to spring back.
Luckily, | had a greater reach than any
Of my opponents, and l Kept them for
awhile at q distance by long, sweeping
Flows.
The duclist ran round behind mo.
shortening his weapon to drive it in be-
tween my shoulders. l wheeled and
s'ashed at him with the full swing Of
my arm. lie raised his sword to ward
the blow, and the blades clashed to-
GCthcr, striking out red sparks.
But there was not the strength in
his wrist 10 check my rage, and though
l failed TO Cleaye his skull, yet / laid
open his forehead. so hat the blood
poured into his eyes and blinded him.
lie flung himself 10 the earth in terror,
expecting to feel my sword through
him within the next moment, but his
brother was too close at my back for
that, and l turned just in time to ward
a furious thrust. My first fury had
Passed by now, and l dealt no more
whirling blows at large upon my foes.
Instead, l pulled myself together, drew
to my hand, as it were, every trick OF
fence of which l was master, and felt
assured as q man could feel that with
in the mex few minutes / should
avenge my friend with my w hand.
But it was not to be. Yet the VEN
Gcance lay close enough. Twice or
thrice II OF them ran to get behind
me, TO ave me between two points.
But | was too quick for them, and
changed my ground time and again.
CONTINUED Next Week.)