The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1903-11-06
CHAPTER XXI.
0 QUARTERS.

CLOSE QUARTERS.
I was just swinging myself back into
the room when there was q swishing of
petttcoats along the narrow passage,
II in ran Siani.
Many, many coming she called In
q loud whisper; go! go!"
] shook my head and she darted to
the window. A low cry burst from her
lips as she saw the watchers without.
A great chatter Of feet on the stairs
nj a hubbub of angry voices warned
me of the danger which threatened
from Within, and l cast a glance about
me. To make q stand where l was
would be impossible. The passage was
the only place to hold them. In a few
words l explained to Siani-who un-
derstood English much better than h
spoke jt-what l intended to do, and
che nodded.
II keep here,' she aid mo one
come this way" She had provided
herself with a formidable knife, and
now pat on her fist, took a firm grip Of
the haft, and posted herself at the win
dow. I patted her shoulder, drew my
sword and ran for the passage. shut
the door Of the room softly and lis
tened- A loud cry of surprise rang
along the gallery. The attacking party
had found my room empty. Then l
heard an excited voice screaming up
Ahe StdtlS, anu L hllS" tIieS "ooid NC
on the right scent Without delay.
Luckily for me the passage was not
straight. 1t tool a sharp turn half way
between the chamber door n the
mouth, where it opened to the gallery.
1t was unlighted, and the closing or
the door threw this end into complete
darkness, While my enemies would be
outlined against the light without. 1t
was narrow, and as owe the point
better than the edge, / was the better
suited.
"Come!" thought I, "'tis a case Of
drawing a badger. The hole is snug
and convenient to n degree, and if l do
not give them as good as they bring,
twill be a foul shame to me-"
1 had, as weapons. my trusty sword,
a blade which had served my father
before me-, and is of ~unequaled temper,
and a pair of pocket pistols with which
Enid had furnished me. The pistols
had each two barrels, and, or course,
the balls were small. But, at a few
PAGES, a little bullet can give a great
wound. and I took one in my left hand,
my sword in my right, and stood firmly
In the angle of the passage. l had
barely presented my pistol when a
cluster of faces swarn.ed into the open
ing.
It was all dark TO their eyes; they
new not where l was, and they hung
for an instant at the mouth. of the pas
sag 1t was to my advantage quickly
to deepen this unwillingneSS to ad-
vance, and l steadily discharged both
barrels of the pistol. The shots struck
home among the crowd and it melted
away with mingled cries of pain and
fury. Then two swift figures sprang
Into the narrow gap, one from either
side, laid pixies before them, and ran
In, thinking TO bear me down with
their greater reach. This attack was
-,1 <Ii,,1r1 =, Tho
blindness of rage--a passion to which
the Celtic temper is prone, and which
leads them very often to vain attempts,
as in This case.
For the two men, being Of the Mervyn
faction. and ignorant OF the house. knew
not of the DEL in the passage. and
dashed their pike-heads against the
wall. Meeting SO unyielding u sub
stance, the pixies few from their hands
II they, themselves, rolled down head
long. AS they rose, l cut each of them
shrewdly over the head, for, had they
made mother step forward, they would
have been within graphing distance,
and TO be seized by one Of them would
have been fatal, since the Whole crowd
would have followed up at a cry. The
sting of the blade quickly let out their
fury, and, without, attempting to pick
up their weapons. they scrambled down
the passage and out of my sight, n OF
them grooming heartily.
I stepped back in shelter of the wal
and so, when a couple of muskets We're
presented and discharged, the bullets
flew by me harmleSsly. l could see
nothing Of those who fired save thu
hands. and several EOlleyS We're poured
in this fashion into m. retreat. Some
of the bullets glanced ound the outer
angle of the bend, which was a smooth
curve, and, t~raversing the whole length
~ {hn :, 90 cTJl1rl. into tho door
Time and again they whizZed by me
but by keeping myself almost fla
against the inner angle I escaped un
touched. The firing ceased, and
pee1ed u again. Thick, eddying cloud
of smoke obaCured my view, then
bright, red glare struck into, them an
with steady, cautious steps, a fires.
party of my enemies came upon me-.
The nov was well planned. Two me:
were IN front, ready with their weap
ons; behind them a tall fellow held
blazing torch on high, to light them t
the attack. Thus l must fight wit
the light in my eyes, and they in CON
plete shadow. l knew my aSsailants a
q glance. They were the duellist an
his cousin. The duellist was a little tn
foremost, and he held a pistol in hi
left hand. This l dreaded much MOI
han the sword IN his right, and l DIRE
my remaining pistol also. Yet l we
unwilling to spend my last shots ii
utterly compelled, and I dropped upo
@. one knee, and uttered a low. melanchol
groan. The duel!ist stepped out brisl
ly upon hearing this. and l was on hi
before he know how close he was to m
lair.
I had marked his left arm from tt
beginning of my spring, and my swol
was through his wrist, held out stiff
pistol in hand, before he could croc
his finger on the trigger.
The pistol ratified on the boards
my feet, and his companion fired as
leaped back. The noise in the confint
space was Geafening, but the bullet &
no more than rip a shred from Il
shoulder of my coat.
With a shrek of pain the duelli
lunged fierce!y at ne.
turned his sword aside and whip,
up my blade in time to guard a C
from his companion. The fellow wi
the torch understood his business, f
he now lowered the leaping red far
until 1t was just above his leader