The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-01-08
CHAPTER xxXv.-continued.

"Uatydd," cried 1euan, softly. An
answering grunt came from the dark
ness behind us. Ieuan uttered q short,
quick command In their own tongue.
n the dwarf shunied of TO silence
the landlord and keep him from admit
ting our enemies.
who IVES that who spoke outside ~
asked Ieuan.
.sir John Postgate." I replied.
Who ISIS he2"
"A magistrate"
IA magistrate!" repeated Ieuan,
And ISIS 1t certain he has come to fetch
Il think 1t very likely" said I.
Well" rejcined Ieuan, at may be.
But It will be best to keep him outside
Tor the good Of everybody"
It was scarcely possible that Sir
John Postgate could have Information
which would justify him in OBTAINING
my companions. but It was clear that
leuan meant to run no risks. and, the
truth 10, that magistrates were no
more TO his fancy than. at present. to
mine.
'If We keep . strong door between
think Of a plan. but II they get in and
begin to strike and shoot. you cannot
see your way ct 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
poured on us from behind. We turned
snd saw the back door wide open, and
q tiny. childish figure standing on the
threshold. One Of the children OF the
house had evaded Dafydd and drawn
h bolt. 1euan gave a great cry and
ran. The child started and sprang out
of the house, and 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 I fumed and ragged as
] peered over Ieuan's shoulder and saw
the doorway fill with a crowd Of fierce,
hostile faces, the whole company run
ming to the scene of action.
The torches We're eagerly snatched
their companions, leaving them free to
handle h Red Men of the Dusk. To
handle Ieuan! He fought easily. With
u 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. 1 saw a musket barrel thrust
between the swordsmen and pushed
upon Ieuan's body.
I dropped on one knee behind him.
and watched the marksman. He was
crouched close behind his friends, and
before h trigger came within easy
reach the round black circle of the
muzzle was within arms length. I shot
out my hand as I saw the musketeer
drop his toward the lock. and wrenched
the wepon aside. AS I did so the piece
was discharged, but the bullet few
clear under my arm. l tugged at the
weapon with all my might, and. thanks
to the surprise, plucked it clean put of
Joy and leaped to my feet and sprang
abreast of Ieuan. clubbing the pom
derous firelock. The first fellow upon
whom I 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 / became aware Of Jack
Postgate. I saw him over the heads Of
his followers, for he was bringing up
the rear. He had raised himself above
them. and. I fancy. was standing on a
horse block just at h door. the upper
part Of his body leaning In. while he
looked over the fight and shouted COM
mands n encouragement. With a
look of malicious triumph he leveled a
pistol at me n took malicious aim. I
bounded f%uriously 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 q long
breath when I Gun my brains still
safe inside my skull, yet knew the bull
let had cut me somewhere, for I felt
blood triclhllng warm into my neck.
I saw a second pistol in Jacks hand,
but he had no chance to use 1t. His fol-
lowers-stout men OF their hands as
they were-had had their fill. n they
turned n swept through the door,
ging their wounded with them. Ieuan
leaped after them. swung the doc to,
and shot the bolt home. Just in time.
Several pistol balls ratified against
the planks. Had it not been for Ieuan's
Quickness. they would have raked the
passage.
WELL" said 1euan, smiling, that
wass a little fight now. Indeed, they
are good ones to fight"
Even though they ran away"
said I.
1euan; every man ISIS running away
when ne has had enough. I have been
this!:
A link had beer dropped in the
struggle and lay burning freely as it's
emu projected OVer b hollow IN the I'm.
even, tagged floor. 1euan picked 1t up
and rolled over a heap lying near 1t.
It was one of the foe left behind in the
retreat, the fellow Of the steelcap who
had mi down under the musket butt.
He had only been stunned. and now his
eyes opened and 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-
ging his head at me. Quarter he says,
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 1t. then" said I, with all
my heart" Something glittering
caught my y and I stopped and
Good luck!" I cried, "a sword! a
sword!"
Gay. ay." said 1euan, as I made the
long tuck whistle round my head; sit
will be good for them to keep away
from US now. You cannot use a sword
as well as me, but I have not known
Anyone else better. And the two Of
susl"
Ieuan shaped his leg and grinned tri-
umphantly.