The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-03-25
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D'ri and /
By IRVING BACHELLER
Author Of Eben Holden" Darrell OF
the Blessed Isles" Etc.
Copyright, 1901. by Loshrop Publishing Company
CHAPTER Vll.-CoNr1NuEp.


tongs there in our dooryard every day
of good weather. Stormy days he had
always stood by in the kitchen, roar
Ing with laughter, as the good steel
rang and the house trembled. He had
been slow to come to it, but had had
his try with us, and had learned to
take an attack without t1inching. went
at him hard for final lesson that day
In the woods great folly. was
soon to know. We got warm and
made more noise than l had any
thought of. My horse took alarm and
pulled away, running into a thicket.
turned to catch him.
Judas Priest!" said D'ri.
There, within 10 feet of us, saw
what made me, ever after, more pru-
dent man. 1t was an English officer
leaning on his sword, tall and hand
some fellow of some 40 years, in shiny
top-boots and scarlet blouse and
gauntlets of brown kid
"You are quite clever" said he,
touching his gray mustache.
I made no answer, but stood pulling
myself together.
"You will learn" he added, smiling,
with a tone of encouragement. Let
me show you trick"
He was most polite in his manner,
like a play-hero, and came toward me
as, he spoke. Then saw four other
Britshers coming out close in upon
us from behind trees.
He came at me quickly, and l met
him. He seemed to think it would be
no trick to unhand my weapon. Like
a flash. with a whip OF his saber, he
tried to wrench it away. D'ri had
begun to shoot, lodging between trees.
and redcoat had tumbled over.
bore in upon my man, but he came
back at me with surprising vigor On
my word, he was the quickest swords
man l ever had the honor of facing
But he had mean way of saying
"Ha!" as he turned my point He
soon angered me, whereupon | lost
bit of caution, with some blood, for he
was at me like a flash, and grazed me
on the hip before could get my head
again. 1t was no parlor play, l can
tell you. We were fighting for life, and
both knew it. We fought up and down
through brakes and bushes and over
stones-a perilous footing. could
feel his hand weakening. put all
my speed to the steel then, knowing
we'll that, barring accident, should
win. 1 could hear somebody coming
up behind me.
keep away there" my adversary
shouted, with fairness admire when
l think of it. II can handle him. Get
the other fellow"
went at him to make an end of it.
"I'll make you squint, you young
cub" he Kissed, lunging at me.
He ripped my blouse at the Shout
der, and, gods of war we made the
sparks fly. Then he went down, wrig-
Cling; I had caught him in the side,
poor fellow! Like a flash l was off
In thicket One of the enemy got
out of my way and sent bullet after
me. I could feel it rip and sting in
the muscle as it rubbed my ribs. l
kept foot and made for my horse. He
had caught his reins, and l was on
him and off in the bush, between bull
lets that came ripping the leaves about
me. before they could give chase.
Drums were beating the call to arms
somewhere. I struck the trail in
minute, and, leaning low in the saddle,
went bounding over logs and rocks
down a steep hillside as if the devil
were after me. looked back, and was
nearly raked off by Dough. l could
hear horses coming in the trail behind
with quick and heavy jumps. But l
was up to rough riding and had little
fear they would get sight of me.
However, crossing a long stretch of
burnt timber, they must have seen me.
a whiz Of bullets over my head. I
shook out the rcins and let the horse
60, urging with cluck and spur, never
Stacking for rock or hill or swale 1t
was a wilder ride than any l have
known since or shall again, l can
promise you, for, God knows, have
been hurt too often. Fast riding over
worse than treason to ones self Add
to it saddle wet with your own blood,
then you have something to give you
q turn Of the stomach thinking of 1t.
When | was near tumbling with a
kind of rib-ache and could hear no pur-
suer, | pulled up. There was silence
about me, save the sound of light
breeze in the tree-tops rolled off
my horse, and hooked my elbow in
the reins, and lay on my belly, grunt-
ing with pain. felt better, having
gol my breath, and rod of beech to
bite uron-a good thing if one has been
badly stung and has journey to make.
In five minutes was up and off at a
slow jog, for knew was near safety.
| thought much of poor D'ri and
how he might be faring. The last I
had seen Cf him, he was making good
use OF piatol and legs, running from
tree to tree. He was dead shot, little
given to wasting lead. The drums were
what worried me, for they indicated
a big camp, and unless he got to the
stirrups in short order, he must have
been taken by overwhelming odds.
It was near shutdown when l came to
a brook and falls I could not remem-
Der passing. looked about me. Some
where l had gone of the old trail
everything was new to me. It widened,
as l rode on, up steep hill. Where
the tree-tops opened, the hill was COW
cred with messy turf, and there were
fragrant ferns on each side of me.
The ground wac clear NJ hrucI, opd