The Cairo bulletin., 1904-12-05

rat III a trap. iou snali nave a enanee
for your life. Had you halted, had
you been a coward. you would not have
been worthy to fight in this arena.
You would not have come where you
are standing, and possibly even now
your grave would have been filled. II
you survive the ordeal that is to come.
hope it will prove an example to yon
Of the honor that is due TO bravery,
Of the fairness due a foe"
Many voices spoke the word "Amen"
as he stopped, turning TO beckon in
to the gloom about us, | was now quite
over my confusion. | began TO look
about me and get my bearings. could
hear a stir in the crowd beyond the
lights, and a murmur of voices. Re-
flecting lanterns from many pillars
near by shot their rays upon me. |
stood ON platform, some 30 feet
square, in the middle of a large room
Its floor was on a level with the faces
the row of lights. Here, took il. |
was to fight for my life. was looking
at the yawnng grave in the corner OF
his arena, when four men ascendea
With swords and pistols One of them
removed the shackles, letting my
hands free. | thanked him as he
tossed them aside. | was thinking Of
D'ri, and, shading my eyes, looked or
in the gloom TO see if | could discover
him. called his name, but heard no
answer His lordship came over 10
me. bringing a new sword. He held
The glittering blade before me. its hilt
in his right hand, its point resting on
The fingers of his left
~It s good" said he, quietly; try
It,"
Ii was a beautiful weapon, its guard
and pommel and quillons sparkling
with .wrought-silyer, its grip Of yell
low leather laced with blue silk. The
glow and the feel OF It filed me with
a Joy | had not known since my father
gave me the sword of my childhood.
# drove the despair out OF me, and
was a new man. tried The blade, its
point upon my toe. 1t was good metal
and the grip fitted me.
We'll, how do you find it?" said he,
impatiently.
Il am satisfied" was my reply
He helped me take off my blouse and
waistcoat, and then rolled my sleeves
to the elbow The hum of voices had
grown louder could hear men Offer
ing 10 bet and others bantering for
odds.
eve II know soon, said voice near
me. whether he could have killed
Ronley in fair fight"
/ turned to look at those few in the
arena There were half a dozen OF
them now, surrounding my adversary
a man taller than the rest, with
heavy neck and brawny arms and
shoulders. He had come out OF the
crowd unobseryed by me. He also
was stripped to the shirt, and had
rolled up his sleeves, and vas trying
the steel. He had red, bristlins mus
tache and oyerhanglng brows ana
vulgar face-not that of man who
settles his quarrel with the sword. !
Judged q club or a dagger would have
been better suited to his genius, But,
among lighters. il is easy TO be fooled
by face. In moment the others had
gone save his lordship and that portly
bald-hcaded man | had heard him re-
buke as Sir Charles" My adversary
met me at the center Of the arena,
where we shook hands. could see, or
thought | could, that he was entering
upon business new to him, for there
was in his manner an indication Of un-
steady nerves.
Gentlemen. are you ready?' said
his lordsEip.
But there are reasons why the story
of what came after should be none OF
my telling. I leave it TO other and bet
ter eyes that we're not looking between
flashes OF STEEL as mine were. And
then one has never fair view of his
fights.