Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-10-31
BY JOHN FINNIMoRE.

10 the spot where I had iung down my
coat, l caught 1t UP. rolled 1t up round
my left arm and ran in on them as
they stood together. Both sprang a,
me, and / aimed to take the seconds
point with the coat while / played the
murderer n drove my blade home.
At the very instant of attack, the
second changed his style, whirled uI
his sword and cut me over the head
| had given up my thoughts too much
TO the other man, and though 1 raised
my arm and broke much Of the blow
yet II lighted fairly along my greer
wound, and the blood spurted as from
q fountain.
The pain OF a still raw wound hack ed
open again was most exquisite, yet fol-
q Few moments l held my ground. Then
a swift dizziness came over me and
reeled n fell. A shout OF savage Joy
burst from the red mans lips, and he
pressed forward to max his wicked
plan good, when there was an unearth-
ty scream of rag from the wood, and
with a fierce thud of flying hoofs
Whitesock, her great discolored teeth
laid bare and iron heels ready for in
slant action, dashed in to the rescue
n was just In time and no more. AS
she bestrode my body, the weapon that
had taken Owain's life was levelled al
mine, but her sweeping kicks swiftly
drove the enemy back.
The first keen agony of the wound
passed. but l felt unable to rise, so sick
and giddy was i. Whitesock turned
her big, bright eyes on me, and
raised my hand. She laid her velvet
muzzle against 1t for an instant, then
.ooked warily round again. / had left
1er browsing among the withered herb
age OF the wood, and she must for
awhile V remained ignorant that ]
1ad run out into the open, or she would
rave followed me at nee She had
evidently caught sight OF me as I fell
and OWNED that her aid was needed
My enemie had no pistols, and 1 felt
as safe from their swords as If I had
been In a castle, go l lay there wait
ing for the giddy feeling to pass off
before / got to my feet.
n duellist had by this time mopped
The blood out OF his eyes, and he walked
lnsteadily up to his companions. The
blade had taken him across the top OF
his forehead, and the flowing blood had
roated his face. 1t was now stiffening
and drying upon his cheeks, so that his
eyes seemed to glare from a hideous
red mask.
It's only n horse" he cried, run In
and stab him where he lies"
dis brother too him at his word,
n ran in. He waved his sword in
the mares face as he dashed forward,
thinking to brighten her from her post,
out Whitesook stood steadily, her head
4 little down. Then, of a sudden, she
reared furiously and stood bolt up
right on her hind legs; to my eyes, ly-
ing directly under her, she seemed as
tall as a tree. The murderer gave a
,oud yelling laugh, thinking she had
reared to wheel round and fly, but new
er was n more fatal miscalculation
made. The first step that brought him
I'm - 60
Torefeet darted at him with Irresistible
Jury. No boxer in the ring ever plant
ed a blow more surely, or with a 1.-THE
of the fearful force now employed. The
ron shod hoof, driven at lightning
speed by the mares tremendous
strength. took him fairly in the throat,
sutting short his laugh into a dreadful
silence, and hurting him six or seven
Yards the body rolling over and over
time and again.
The duelhst dropped his sword and
new to his brother. He raised the hud-
He'd mass from the ground, then let 1t
Tall again with a LOUD cry. 1t rolled to
ais feet and lay sprawling in limp and
attitudes Had tho mUrdcrcy's
aeck been c;Used IN thrice-tempered
steel that awful blow must have broken
II - once, and Owain was avenged.
This cowed the courage of the re-
maining two, and they stood despond-
sntly over the dead body OF their COM
panion. l lifted my hand and hooked
my fingers into a stirrup swinging
above my face, and dragged myself up.
Whitesock stood like a statue as
scrambled to my feet, and then
leaned upon the saddle, the scene be-
tore me swaying in time to the keen,
aarting bursts Of pain which swept
through my head.
Some minutes passed thus, and
voices came to my ear. I turned a lit
tie and saw with giddy injurious eyes
a whole train of figures Fastening
toward us.
Then my mind cleared at a stroke as
u saw Enid burst from the throng, run
swiftly forward, and fling herself on
the earth beside Owain's body.
A confused babel of tongues arose,
some crying out In wonder and horror,
some demanding explanations, others
exchanging threats, for men Of both
bands had come up, and the sight of
their young leaders slain aroused saw
age wrath. / saw the tall old man who
had been IN attendance upon Enid the
drst time / met her, pointing and talk
ing ~furiously, and gesticulating as If he
had witnessed the affair and was now
describing 1t, butt understood nothing
he, said.
l saw my uncle with wondering, half
frightened chances at me, talking ear
nestly with the two survivors Of the
duelfing party, but 1t seemed difficult
10 IA them from the dull apathy
into which the fall of their friend had
thrown them. / saw threee men of
Nant-y-Bryn raise Owain's body care
fully, and bear it with slow steps to-
ward the house. Enid followed them,
and | saw her face. It was white. and
drawn, in dreadful grief, but no tear
stood In her eyes. She looked toward
me and at first there was no recogni-
don in her glance. Then the knowl-
edge of me came into her look, and
perceived that she had never seer me
before nor dreamed that I was present.
She came to a pause within a couple
of yards OF me, her eyes pent upon my
cory face, and / lifted my hand.
Foul play" said /, In a voice which
sounded thin and dry in my own ears.
Il saw 1t all from the spinney there, but
ran In too late to save him from the
treacherous stroke. The man who dealt
It lies there. He will never strike foul
blow more"
The pain in my head doubled and re-
doubted Its harsh. grinding fury. /
chung tighter to the saddle, but in vain.
My foothold seemed to. melt away un-
der me, and I fell unconscious to the
ground.
CHAPTER XXI.