Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1904-01-30

b~etraying my thought, but replied non
c~halantly:
No. the Indians are quiet. at least
so our o tell us, and as for the
state of the garrison, you were long
enough ashore to know we are strong"
"Ah, then, there Is another motive; a
woman. Come, Is 1t not true? Con-
fess?"
1 blushed in spite Of myself; 1t was
an idle way / had, for I had seen little
OF women. Ny confusion threw him
completely off the track; had l only
guessed 1t, would have taken refuge in
that device sooner.
mo, no, comrade; are wrong
but still somehow my color came and
went like a novice out of the convent.
His roc d-humored raillery continued
until l became annoyed in earnest, yet
was glad he took the matter so serious
ly. When Levert passed us again on
his walk 1 spoke to him.
Now, my dear Levert, we will try
u fortune with the foils II 1t pleases
YOU"
mo, my humor is past. Do you try
with Broussard; methinks he had rath-
er the better of you yesterday. You
agree, B~roussard?"
Yes, yes" he replied. eagerly. "let
US at It,"
He fenced rather worse than usual,
so l had no trouble in touching him as
l pleased. This begat an irritation of
manner, and noticing IT / suggested we
leave off.
He would not hear to 1t; I saw the
color slowly leave his face; his thin
lips curled back and showed his teeth,
until, fearing a serious outbreak, I
stepped back as If / would lay aside
the foil. He pressed me close, so close
indeed l could not If / would drop my
guard. He touched me nee or twice.
Il call the bout a draw" declared
Levert, who had himself observed
Broussard's nusua energy.
Nay, not so, not so; he gives back.
I've much the better" and he lunged
at me so vigorously l was forced to
act with more aggression. The button
snapped from the point of his foil; l
cared not, and he affected not to see IT,
though something made me sure he
realized his advantage. l determined
now to show him a trick of my own.
From my youth l had the peculiar
faculty of using M hand quite as we'll
as the other, and had often practiced
changing my sword swiftly from right
to left. 1t was a simple feat, much
more snowy than difficult, yet exceed
ingly b~eWildering to IN adversary. In
this instance 1t afforded me an easy
means Of reaching his undefended side.
So l feigned to be driven back, and
watching for a more headlong and
careless rush, my weapon was appar-
emily twisted from my hand and for an
instant seemed to hang suspended In
the air. / caught 1t In my left and be-
fore he recovered his footing had
thrown his foil from him, sending 1t
whizzing overheard. 1t took but an
instant to press my point firmly against
his chest, as he stood painting and dis
armed. Never was man more sur
prised.
"Bravely DONE" cried Levert.
"A most foul and dishonorable trick"
Achille snarled.
Not So" Levert corrected him
gravely, looking at me to observe the
effect of the insult. l stood still at
guard, blu made no move.
"Broussard, o are angry now, and
I'll take no heed of your healed words.
But tomorrow you must make a gen.
tleman's amends"
"Tush, tush," Levert interposed, "'tis
the quarrel of a child. He means moth
ing"
Broussard said no more, but look ed
surly and i'll pleased. I was secretly
elated at the success Of my coup
against such a skilled swordsman, and
only remarked quietly:
"Broussard, when you anger has
passed l trust you will do me the honor
of an apology"
Behind it all I cared little, for I felt
myself his master with his chosen
weapon and could afford to be gen.
erous. He came up in very manly
fashion, after a time, and craved my
forgiveness, but we played at foils no
more.
The lookouts were beginning to
watch for land, I growing more and
more impatient as the end of our
voyage drew near And now I had
much leisure to contemplate, and Won
der at the strange turn Of fortune
which q called upon me to play a
part in the affairs of state, though
what the drama was, and what my
lines might be, l could only guess. The
story of Colonel D'Ortez, too, furnished
me much food for reflection these long
starlit nights, when / sat in my favor
lite seat in the very Prov of the vessel.
There would l sit night after night,
watching the phosphorescent waves
ripping against the vessel, cleaning
fitful in the gloom; there observe the
~steadfast stars, and seem alone with
darkness and with God.
One wet morning, pacing the Slip
perry deck, the sailing master called to
me:
See, sir, yonder dim outline to the
nor'east? IT'S the Norman coast; this
night, God willing, we sleep in
Dieppe."
My errand now consumed my entire
attention, so 1 thought no more of my
companions of the voyage, bidding
them both good night before we had
yet landed.