The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-01-08
By JOHN FlNNlhoRE
CHAPTER XxXv.-continued.

CAA4AA Ell
Dafydd," cried Ieuan. softly, An
answering grunt came from the dark
ness behind US. Ieuan uttered a short.
quick command in their own tongue.
and the dwarf shufled off to silence
the landlord and keep him from admit
ting our enemies.
Who was that who spoke outside? p,
Sir John Pos.gate," I replied.
Who ISIS he?" z
"A maglstrate."
A magistrate!" repeated Ieuan,
your" ~ ietoi
II think 1t very likely" said I.
Wen. rejoined Ieuan. "it may be.
But 1t will be best to keep him outside
Tor the good Of everybody"
1t was scarcely possible that Sir
John Postgate could have information
which Wsuld justify him in OBTAINING
my companions, but 1t was clear that
!euan meant to run no risks, and. the
truth Is. that magistrates were no
more to his fancy than. at present. to
mine.
II we keep a strong door between
as" 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
70 open was repeated, amid a rain of
blows from musket-butts, and we re-
turned toward the door that was being
assa1led, Suddenly a stream of light
poured on us from behind. We turned
end saw the pack door wide open. and
q tiny, childish figure standing on the
threshold. One of the children of the
house had evaded Dafydd and drawn
bolt. leuan gave a great cry and
ran. The child started and sprang out
or \ 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 one as his sword flew
! out to meet them.
L a no weapon, nothing but my
bare hands, and I fumed and ragged as
l 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
from the hands of the leading men by
their companions, leaving them free to
handle the Red Men of the Dusk. To
handle 1euan! He fought easily, with
out hurry or mis~calculatlon. Their
blades darted at him from either side
and he parted every thrust, checked
every cut, then, when his chance came,
SHtSS Vi Tx pOl1ljL Ill
one, and, with a lashing twist of his
Iron wrist laid open the cheek of an
other. Just .as he delivered these
strokes, l saw q musket barrel thrust
between the swords1nen and pushed
upon Ieuan's body.
l dropped on n nee 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 musketeel
drop his toward the lock, and wrenched
the wepon aside. AS l did so the piece
was discharged. but the bullet flew
clear under my arm. I tugged at the
weapon with all my might, and, thanks
to the surprise, plucked 1t clean out OF
my enemy's grasp. l gave a shout Of
Joy and leaped to my feet and sprane
abreast of Ieuan, clubbing the pom
dereus frelock. The first fellow upor
whom I laid it wore, luckily for him
q stout steel cap. but he dropped like
q stone, and knocked over another
against whom he was dashed.
Suddenly I became ware of Jack
Postgate. I say him over the heads Of
his followers. for he was bringing uI
the rear. He had raised himself above
them, and, I fancy, was standing on 9
horse block just at the door, the upper
part OF his body leaning in. while he
looked over the fight and shouted com,
mands and encouragement. With 6
look of malicious triumph he leveled 6
pistol at me and took malicious aim.
bounded furiously at the people before
me, striking fierce, butting blows will
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 lonE
breath when I found my brains still
safe inside my skull, yet knew the bull
let had cut me somewhere, for I fel
blood trickling 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 a:
they were-had a their fill, and they
turned and swept through the door
driving him from his perch, and drag
ging their wounded with them. Ieua1
leaped after them, swung the door to
and shot the bolt home. Just in time.
Several pistol balls ratified agains
the planks. Had it not been for Ieuan'
q%uickness they would have raked TIT
passage.
wass a little fight now. Indeed, the!
are good mes to fight
Even though they ran away.
said I.
Never mind for that" returned
Ieuan; every maj ISIS running ava.
when he has had enough. have beer
doing 1t plenty Of times. Who Isl
this:"
A link had been dropped In tn
; struggle and lay burning freely as 1T
end projected over a hollow in the un
even, tagged floor. Ieuan picked 1T VI
and rolled over a heap lying near 1t
It was one Of the foe left behind in tn
retreat, the fellow Of the steelcap VIII
had gone down under the musket butt
He had only been stunned. and now nj
eyes opened and he blinked feebly a
the light. Ieuan laid his sword poin
at the mans throat.
'.Quarter!!" groaned the poor wretch
Hear him now said Ieuan, wag
cling 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, them" said I, with al
my heart Something gltterinl
caught my eye and I stopped an
Good luck"! I cried, "a sword!
sword!'
GAY, ay," said Ieuan. as I made tn
long tuck whistle round my head; =
Will be good for them to keep ava:
from us now. You cannot use a sWor'