Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-01-09

He jumped back to the dor and I let
him In, and before shutting the door i
had q shot at the man with the little
gun. for he wass standing plain In the
f~lrelight."
did you hit him"
Hit him!" cried Ieuan; "yes, indeed
l filled him with small pieces OF lead,
and two came to drag him away"
why did you send that poor little
fellow out irst?"
Because" said Ieuan, with his cruel
grin, 1T wass better for them to shoot
at him h at me. 1t wass lucky to
have Dafydd to try with"
And he was hit in the hand?"
yes" rejoined Ieuan, nodding his
mead rehectively, as he stared into the
fire. Right in the middle. You could
put q stick straight through the hole
lie bent again to his cooking, and I
went to look about our fortress, which
now began to assume, in my eyes. the
aspect of a trap. / blamed myself
again and again for my carelessness
In sleeping so long and leaving Ieuan
In management of matters when he
could not grasp the full import of
things. To him, everything seemed
Just as II should be. Our enemies were
outside and were not molesting us; we
were inside with plenty to eat and
drink and If we had not escaped the
one night we should the next, and at
any rate the quarters were comfortable
Tor the present. But in all this Ieuan
was weighing things in the balance of
Nant-y-Bryn.
There your enemies were, in the
MAN., q fixed quantity. You had to
reckon with the band before Won and
no more, and If they left you easy in
your mind you might remain safely
SO. Bit this moorland, although, to
take a glance round the ale-house, il
as lonely as the hills about
Nant-y-Bryn, was yet within easy
reach or powerful achievements, and
l dreaded the arrival Of a strength TO
which we could offer no resistance
worthy OF the name. 1 observed that
the main body of Sir Johns men
seemed posted at a small house some
sixty yards away, the only dwelling
IN sight, and that sentinels were set on
both sides of the house we occupied.
leuan that his cooking
was finished, n we ate our breakfast.
When II was over / took the watch, and
the Red Men OF the Dusk lay down to
sleep. The besiegers left us entirely
alone save for their watchfulness, and
this l regarded as a very bad sign,
Some hours passed, and / kept my eyes
about me steadily, but for every glance
l gave to the people at hand l directed
two to a low, healthy hill q mile and a
half to the west.
l knew that troops were stationed in
a small town in that direction, and the
road ran clean over the crest of the
hilL The house was perfectly quiet.
for leuan had bundled the landlord. his
family and the prisoner out of doors
before / awoke, and / laid my plans in
case of need.
II was about an hour after midday
when the sight l had been expecting all
the morning caught my eye. Tiny
points of light, shining like Jewels.
crowned the hill for a few moments.
then disappeared. l called Ieuan, and
he n his companion were afoot in a
moment.
"A band Of soldiers will be here In
a short time" said l, "and we must be
clear of this place before they come"
How do you know" asked Ieuan.
Il have seen the sunlight flashing on
their harness and steel caps in the dis
lance"
1--WE can keep them out the same as
the Others"
They will come provided In different
fashion" l answered. "They will blow
in the door with a petard n make
short work of us. 1t is their trade, and
the party is numerous"
"Well?" said Ieuan.
Here is my plan," said /. "These
people want me and will trouble little
about o If 1 bolt from this house
like a rabbit from it's hole, they will
follow me up, n you can strike off
into the moor and get away"
Yes" said Ieuan, and will you
rum"
i Will" l replied, and slipped off m
clumsy shoes. Ieuan understood and
nodded.
ON the grass and along the soft
roads you will go twice as fast" he
remarked. Twill you carry the sword?"
NO" said I, Il must not cumber my.
self"
This ISIS better than nothing at ALL"
went on Ieuan, drawing a knife from
beneath his coat and pressing 1t on me.
1t was, and accepted il.
Now a little money" said he,
thrusting his hand into his breast.
Not a penny" l replied: Il shall
make straight for home if / clear their
outposts."
oh, Well" agreed Ieuan, and with.
drew his hand.
(ConcIuded Naxf waeL