The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1904-01-22
"Geoffrey Heathcote, Esq"
By JOHN FINNihORE. Copyright 1899, by 8. S. Mcclure Co. J
CHAPTER Xxxy.-continued

SaeHs oSASAJ 80
answering grunt came from the dark.
ness behind us. Ieuan uttered a short
quick command in their own tongue
and the dwarf shuf1ed off to silence
the landlord and keep him from admit.
ting u enemies.
Who was that who spoke outsider
asked Ieuan.
"Sir John P~ostgate." I replied.
WHO ISIS he?"
"A magistrate"
"A m~agistrate!" repeated Ieuan
And ISIS 1t certain he has come to fetch
Vou?"
II think 1t very likely" said L.
Well" rejoined Ieuan, 1T may be
But 1t will be best to keep him outside
for the good of everybody"
1t Was scarcely possible that Sir
John Postgate could nave information
which would justify him In OBTAINING
my companions, but 1t 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.
III we keep a strong door between
u.s." said Ieuan, there ISIS q 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
W SPSh. iSlSalCu, i IL i ~
blows from musket-butts, and we re-
turned toward the door that was being
assailed. Suddenly q stream of light
poured on us from behind. We turned
Ind saw the back door wide open, aid
a tiny, childish figure standing on the
threshold. One of the children OF the
house had evaded Dafydd and drawn
the bolt. 1euan ave a great cry and
ran. The child started and sprang out
Of the house, and before Ieuan Gwyllt
reached the door the t~orch-bearers
|eaped In and blocked the way. The
passage was wide, and both pushed
upon him at once as his sword flew
out to meet them.
/ had no weapon, nothing but my
bare hands, and I fumed and ragged as
[ peered owe 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 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 Ieuan! 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
pne, and, with a flashing twist of his
iron wrist laid open the cheek of an
other. Just as he delivered these
strokes, I saw a musket barrel thrust
between the swordsmen n 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 the 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. ASH did so the piece
was discharged, but the bullet flew
clear under my arm. + tugged at the
Weapon with all my might, and, thanks
to the surprise, plucked 1t clean out Of
my enemy's grasp. 1 gave a shout of
Joy and leaped to my feet and sprang
abreast OF Ieuan, clubbing the pom
derous flrelock. The first fellow upon
whom I laid 1t wore, luckily for him,
a stout steel cap but he dropped like
a stone, and knocked over another
against whom he was dashed.
Suddenly I became aware Of Jack
P~ostgate. I saw him over 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 a
look Of malicious triumph he leveled a
pistol at me and ook 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 I found my brains still
eo 20 4 nrt11 ~, ~1r,,l1 ,,o& i,,o-, @1,D All
let a cut me somewhere, for I felt
blood trfckling warm into my neck.
I saw a second pistol in Jacks hand,
but he had no chance to use it. His fol-
lowers-stout men of their hands as
they were-had had their fill, and they
turned and swept through the door,
driving him from his perch, and drag
cling their wounded with them. Ieuan
leaped after them, swung the door to.
Several pistol balls ratified against
the p.anks. Had it not been for Ieuan's
quickness they would have raked the
passage.
"well," said Ieuan, smiling, "that
wass a little fight now. Indeed, they
are good ones to fight"
Even though they a away"
said I.
Never mind for that" returned
Ieuan; every man ISIS running away
when he has had enough. I 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 q hollow in the I'M
even, tagged floor. Ieuan picked it up
and rolled owe a heap lying near 1t.
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 a 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 h 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 T stopped and
picked it up.
Good luck!" I cried. "a sword! a
sword!" .
"Ay. ay," said Ieuan, as I made the
long tuck whistle round my head; at
will be good for them to keep away
from us now. You cannot use a sword
as we'll as me. but I have not known
anyone else better. And the two of
usl"
Ieuan SLAPPED his leg and grinned tri-
umphantly.
.A.A 2 4 49, f-A - ~ -