The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1903-09-11

WI! go from the house; yes, every one"
MY uncle was beyond speech. He
was uttering small odd noises, like a
wild animal caught in a gin.
! made the only reply possible to
ieuans offer, II that was to engage
MN more desperately than ever. He
hung pack for a moment, watching my
hIist' then, with a trick of fence Of
winch l had never seen the like, he
plucked my sword from my grip, and
l heard it tinkle against the roof.
sprang at him with my naked
hands but he dropped his point,
clenched his great, hairy fist. and met
me with a tremendous blow. 1t just
missed my throat, took me on the
breast bone and hurled me backward
on the stairs. My uncle fled upstairs.
screaming, and Ieuan leaped after him.
his sword appraised.
With a sharp, brittle sound a ball
from above shattered the sword to
pieces near the hilt, and, in his rage,
leuan hung what remained in his hand
at the marksman. The second piece
was now laid upon him, and Ieuan, cal
culatlns as ever in the midst of his
rage, turred and darted back.
Ihe man, fearing to hit one Of us.
sIol VIDE. and the bullet buried itself
IN the axe wainscoting. AS Ieuan flew
down, was just scrambling to my
leet, n Owain was driving his big
opponent before him. In the body of
the hall our men were quickly regain
ing their lost ground; and, looking out
upon them, l noticed for the first time
mat the place was filled with a bright
dancing light, shining in redly at the
windows.
Inc cause was in full sight. The
llghtnlng had fired an clubhouse, which
was blazing furiously. AS 1 have said.
our nPn Naca or,,- orc y, =, ~ 49, 49,
nand, for the constant shower of balls
from the marksmen posted on the
gallery, both deadly shots, had thinned.
lhe of the Red Men of the Dusk.
leuan ran down the hall, lodged one or
Two blows aimed at him, caught up a
pike from the hands Of a man huddled
on the flags. and placed himself at the
my sword, which had fallen within
Two yards of me, and glanced at Owain.
AT the same instant he looked at me.
"A rush now would break them" he
said.
"leuan is beginning to draw them:
Off, l answered. 1t was even SO. His
pand ike strangely reduced, though
hone mad been seen to fly, n they
We're now outnumbered. Making dread
tul play with his pike, he was moving
steadily back. Owain turned his head
and shouted to the two men on the
gallery. They ceased firing at the enc
my and laid their weapons to v the
stair foot
Now" cried owain, and we flung
ourselves into the midst Of the fray,
shouting and slashing our maddest and
hardest. Our advent gave renewed
heart to the men of Nant-y-Bryn. It
was like plucking up their spirits with
a trumpet, and they charged with a
mighty shout. Fol some minutes the
struggle was still waged desperately,
but now we fought as men fight whose
victory is assured, the subtle wine of
rlu1nph mounted to our brains and
drove US carelessly upon the foe. There
was no gradual slackening of the bat-
tie. The Red Men of the Dusk held
their w without flinching, till, Of a
sudden they gave wholly and COM
pletely, like a bank Of mist before a
strong wind. and we poured through
the doorway, chasing an enemy whose
speed made it a folly to pursue. Out
side, great sheets of flame We're Lean
Ing up into the blackness of the dying
storm. The fire had spread to a wood
en- granary, but the whole camp was
detached and could injure nothing,else.
The ground was covered with a thin.
smooth sheet of snow, taking the CLEAN
or the fire ruddily and making the place
light as day.
Heated with combat l ran with sew
eral other thirty or forty yards from
the door upon the heels Of the flying
Zoe before recovered enough sense to
Gesist. To think of catching them was
useless, n | stopped and lifted up my
face to the grateful cold of the night.
Behind me the muskets cracked again
and again as shots We're fired at the
dark figures Of the Red Men Of the
Dusk gliding up the whitened hill. I
drew a deep breath and look ed round
upon the shining scene, when a gunshot
echoed from the house, and 1 felt as if
a stream of fire We're passing across
my bare head. A strange weakness
came over my limbs, a great buzzing
sounded in my ears, and l pitched for
ward into a little ditch upon the brink
OF which I had paused.
CONTINUED Next Weekly
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