Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-01-09
CHAPTER xxxv.-Continued.

III tlltlI OWH tOlS NC
and the dwarf shufied off to silence
the landlord m keep him from admit
ting our enemies.
Who was that who spoke outside ?"
asked Ieuan.
Sir john Postgate." 1 replied.
who ISIS hep"
"a magistrate"
"A magistrate!" repeated Ieuan,
And iss it certain he has come to fetch
you?"
II think it very likely" said I.
Well" rejoined Ieuan, lit may be.
But 1t will be hest to keep him outside
for the good of everybody"
1t was scarcely possible that Sir
John Postgate could have information
which would justify him in OBTAINING
my companions. but ii was clear that
leuan meant to run no risks, and, the
truth is, that magistrates were no
more to his fancy than, at present, to
mine.
IF we keep a strong door between
u.s." said Ieuan, there ISIS a chance to
think of a plan, but If they get in and
begin to strike and shoot, you cannot
see your way at ALL"
Twice or thrice the loud command
TO open was repeated, amid a rain of
blows from musket- butts, and we re-
turned toward the door that was being
assailed Suddenly q stream of light
tON'NN oi dS lIollI pCIllIlu. WE luIIleu
and saw The back door wide open, and
4 tiny, childish figure standing on the
threshold. One of the children of the
house had evaded Dafydd and drawn
the bolt. gave a great cry and
ran. The child started and sprang opt
of the house, n before Ieuan Gwyllt
reached the door the torch-bearers
leaped In and blocked the way. The
passage was wide, and both pushed
upon him at once as his sword flew
out to meet them.
L had no weapon, nothing but my
bare hands, and 1 fumed and ragged as
| peered over Ieuan's shoulder and saw
the doorway fill with a crowd OF fierce,
hostile faces, the whole run
ming to the scene of action.
The torches were eagerly snatched
from the hands of the leading men by
their companions, leaving them free to
handle the Red Men of the Dusk. To
handle leuan! He fought easily, with
out hurry or miscalculation. Their
blades darted at him from either side,
and he parted every thrust, checked
every cut, then, when his chance came,
drove three inches of the point into
one, and, with a flashing twist Of his
iron wrist laid open the cheek of an
other. Just as he delivered these
strokes, i saw n musket barrel thrust
between the swordsmen and pushed
upon leuan S BODY.
/ dropped on one knee behind him.
and watched the marksman. He was
crouched close behind his friends, and
before the trigger came within easy
reach the round black circle of the
muZzle was within arms length. l shot
out my land as l saw the musketeer
drop his toward the lock. and wrenched
the wepon aside. AS / did so the piece
was discharged, but the bullet flew
pIa0F I1FInr n Us 49,, ~A1 - ~
weapon with all my might, and, thanks
to the surprise, plucked it clean out of
my enemy's grasp. / gave a shout of
Joy and leaped to my feet and sprang
abreast of Ieuan, clubbing the pom
derous firelock. The first fellow upon
whom l laid it wore, luckily for him,
a stout steel cap, but he dropped like
a stone, and knocked over another
against whom he was dashed.
Suddenly l became aware OF Jack
Postgate. l saw him I'VE the heads Of
his followers, for he was bringing up
the rear. He had raised himself above
them, and, l fancy, was standing on a
horse block just at the door, the upper
part Of his body leaning in, while he
looked over the fight and shouted COM
mands n encouragement. With q
look Of malicious triumph he leveled a
pistol at me and took malicious aim. I
bounded ~furiously at the people before
me, striking fierce, butting blows with
the iron musket heel, and thinking how
long a time it was before Jack fired,
and perhaps l. should reach him yet,
when his pistol cracked. I drew a long
breath when ] found my brains still
safe inside my skull, yet knew the bull
let had cut me somewhere, for I felt
blood triCkling warm into my neck.
| saw Il second pistol in Jacks hand,
but he had no chance to use it. His fol-
loWers-stout men of their hands az
they were-had had their fill, and they
turned and swept through the door,
driving him from his perch, and drag
ging their wounded with them. Ieuan
leaped after them, swung the door to,
and shot the bolt home. Just in time.
Several pistol balls ratified against
the planks. Had ii not been for Ieuan's
a%uickness they would have raked the
passage.
We'll said IeUan, smiling, that
wass a little fight now. Indeed, they
are good ones to fight"
Even though they ran away"
said /.
Never mind for that returned
Ieuan; every mar ISIS running away
when he has had enough. 1 have been
doing it plenty Of times. Who ISIS
this?"
A link had been dropped in the
struggle n lay burning freely as it's
end projected over a hollow in the UNI
even, tagged floor, Ieuan picked it up
and rolled over q heap lying near il.
1t was one of the foe left behind in the
retreat, the fellow OF the steelcap who
had gone down under the musket butt.
He had only been stunned, and now his
eyes opened M he blinked feebly at
the light. Ieuan laid his sword point
at the mans throat.
Quarter" groaned the poor wretch.
Hear him now" said Ieuan, wag-
just as in the old days at the wars"
Yes" I urged. give him quarter
oh" said Ieuan, he belongs to you
You knocked him down."
Quarter be it, then" said /, with all
my heart" Something glittering
my eye and / stopped and
picked it up.
Good luck" I cried, "a sword! a
sword"
"Ay, ay," said Ieuan, as / made the
long tuck whistle round my head; 'it
will be good for them to keep away
from US now You ann use q sword
as well as me, but / have no known
else better. And the two OF
u.s.
Ieuan SLAPPED his leg and grinned tri-
umphantly.
A single heavy blow fell upon the
front door and shook it until every
plank, every bolt ratified again.
They are coming one more!" cried
in surprise.
LAY, ay," said j, they have returned
to their first plan and mean to beat
that door down.
but we drove them off," urged
"'Tis the English fashion. Ieuan," I
did o suppose you had
them off forever"
Another tremendous blow crashed on
the stout slabs of wood and rang
through the house. j started forward
reached the door as n third blow
tell and let in light; a strip of wood a
couple of inches broad and several
inches long falling away and admit
ing he flare of the torches and giving