The San Francisco call., 1904-08-21

get home 10 your bed before throw
you down the gorgel"
de did not wait for any reply, but
leaping nimbly from his horse ran to-
ward the man and seized his bride
rein
Come, now, rascalI" he cried. ct am
IN a hurry. Go back before I fog you
do you hear me?"
such threat, so unlocked for a re-
Nersal Of the parts they were to play,
LIT the hillnsn sDeechless with sur
Pssse- For little while he sat unable
10 utter word, and it was not until
ne perceived that his horse was actu-
ally being backed toward the edge of
the precipice that he snatched a pistol
from his belt and tried TO cock it. But
ne was clumsy and maladroit, and a
heavy blow from the butt end Of Ar
thur riding whip sent the weapon
from his grasp. II discharged as it fell
ana a loud report echoed through the
hills.
Come, now, Don Ramon. you will
certainly shoot yourself. Do you not
know that pistols are dangerous things ?
must protect you from yourself. Get
down now II you value your precious
nfei"
Arthur spoke and acted like one who
enjoyed some paltry jest: his contempt
provoked the hillman to a frenzy Of
rage and panic. Nainly he bent down
from his saddle and would have
.gripped his antagonist by the throat,
but sure hands kept him back; he could
neel them Ike iron about his ribs, and
his startled horse plunging forward he
ten heavily upon the very brink Of the
abyss. An arena more hazardous never
invited wrestlers TO the contest-upon
the one hand the rocky wall. upon the
other the frightfui precipice OF
this, however, neither stopped to
think They were locked together
henceforth, arms binding arms, nails
gripping the flesh. sweat upon their
faces, their muscles like cords; feet,
loins. and thighs wrestling for the mas
tery. Life was the stake they played
1orm-Ramon Of Vic-Dessos. that the
guard might not shoot him al dawn;
the Prince, that Esther might not wait
for him IN vain. And so they rocked
70 and fro. now against the sheer wall,
now SO close 10 death that one touch
would have sent them down together.
Jagged rocks. uplifted in the cascade
below. awaited the issue. One would
feed them anon
II had been plain from the first that
the peasant was the stronger man; and
that II his grip had been sure. his
strength must soon prevail But Ra-
mon OF Vic-Dessos had been taken at
q disadvantage, and having but little
purchase upon his antagonist. he could
but force him toward the abyss by that
sheer strength which the mountains
gave him Inch by inch and foot by
foot he appeared 10 be accomplishing
his purpose. With death staring him
IN the face, and death terrible TO con-
template. II was singular. Arthur would
. say. that he should think less OF what
such an end might mean than Of the
home he had quilted and the young
wife waiting for him there. So much,
IN truth. could the name Of Esther
nerve him that his wits were with him
e the end; and even when il seemed
that nothing could save him from the
abyss. he remembered a trick he had
learned in the Sale d'Armes at Paris,
and had the courage TO employ it, Ex-
erting al his strength for a brief mo-
ment. he as swiftly relaxed every
muscle. and sinking upon his knee he
slipped right under his enemy's body.
The trick found Ramon Of Nic-Dessos
utterly al a loss. Believing that his
antagonist was utterly exhausted, he
. made q supreme effort, hurled his body
forward. lost his balance. and plunged
headIong 10 the depths with a lingering
CRY. Arthur watched his body, it
seemed for an age. bounding from crag
10 crag. until il fell bent and broken
into the shadows OF the pit Then.
reeling and dizzy. he turned TO call his
horse. The captain OF the station,
called out by the pistol-shot, answered
his cry
They rode back 10 St Girons to-
gether, rechessly and ignoring the
danger. A sobbing dame met them
upou the threshold and related. with
what conference she could command,
the story OF Alonzo's flight Martinez.
the steward, showing a gaping wound,
added his tale and besought his mas
Ter not 10 leave the house.
ct Is q trap, Highness, he said,
nothing but a trap. Do not fall into
Il You have enemies in Cadi-why for
get Il? In Gods name, ask you 10 be
prudent"
Arthur answered them by ordering
q horse 10 be saddled.
I shall follow my wife" he said.
s1et the road carry me where II Will
CHAPTER XVI
Cadi was ablaze with lights when
Gre