Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-02-27


another crossing, half ford, half
slough My men tried it gingerly and
gave back and tried it again in another
place; and finally, just as mademoiselle
and monsieur came up to them, found
cred through and sprang slantwise
up the father bank.
The delay had been enough to bring
me, with no good will of my own,
close up to the Cocheforets. Mademoi-
selle's horse made little business of
the place; this delayed them still
longer and in the result we neared
the water almost together and
crossed close on her heels. The bank
on either side was steep; while cross
ing we could see neither before nor
behind At the moment, however,
thought nothing Of this, nor Of her
delay and was following her quite
at my leisure, when the sudden report
of carbine, second report and a
yell of alarm In front, thrilled me
through.
On the instant, while the sound
was still in my ears, saw II all. Like
hot iron piercing my brain, the truth
flashed into my mind. We were at
tackled! We were attacked, and i was
here helpless in this pit, this trap!
The loss of second while I fumbled
here, mademoiselle's horse barring the
way might be fatal.
There was but one way turned my
horse straight at the steep bank and
he breasted it. One moment he hung
as If he must fall back. Then, with
a snort Of terror and a desperate bound
he topped it and gained the level,
trembling and snorting.
1t was as | had guessed. Seventy
PAGES away on the road lay one of my
nsen. He had fallen, horse and man
and lay still. Near him, with his back
against bank, stood his fellow. on
foot, pressed by four horsemen and
shouting. AS my eye lighted on the
scene, he let fly with carbine and
dropped one.
| snatched pistol from my holster,
cooked it. and seized my horse by the
head-I might save the man yet. l
shouted to encourage him and in an
other second should have charged into
the fight when sudden vicious blow,
swift and unexpected, struck the pistol
| from my hand.
| made a snatch at it as it fell, but
missed it; and before could recover
myself, mademoiselle thrust her horse
furiously against mine and with her
riding-whip, dashed the sorrel across
the ears. AS my horse reared madly.
up had a glimpse of her eyes flash
ing hate through her mask; of her
hand again up!ifted; the next moment,
I was down in the road, inaloriously
endorsed, the sorrel was galloping
away, and her horse, scared in it's
turn, was plunging unmanageably a
score Of PAGES from me-
/ don't doubt that but for that she
would have trampled on me. AS it
was, l was free to draw; and in a
twinlding I was running towards the
fighters. All have described had hap
pened in few seconds. My man was
still defending himself; the smoke Of
the carbine had scarcely risen. /
sprang with shout across fallen
tree that interviewed; at the same mo-
ment two Of the men detached them
selves and rode, to meet me. One,
whom took to be the leader, was
masked. He came furiously at me,
trying to ride me down; but leapcd
aside nimbly and evading him, rushed
at the other and soaring his horse, so
that he dropped his point, cut him
across the shoulder before ne could
guard himself He plunged away,
cursing, and trying to- hold in his
horse, and turned to meet the masked
man.
'You double-dyed villain!" he cried,
riding at me again. And this time
he manoeuvered his horse so skilfully
that was hard put to it to prevent
him knocking me down; and could not
with all my efforts reach him to hurt
him. Surrender, will you!' he con-
tinued, you blood hound!"
| wounded him slightly in the knee
for answer; but before l could do
more his companion came back anG
the two set upon me with will, slash
Ing at my head so furiously and tower
ing above me with so great an advan.
tage that it was all could do to guard
myself. l was soon glad to fall back
against the bank-as my man had
done before me-. In such conflict my
napier would have been Of little use
but fortunately had armed myself
before l left Paris with a cut-and
thrust sword for the road; and though
my mastery of the weapon was MOI
on par with my rapier-play, 1 wa
able to fend off their cuts and by al
occasional prick keep the horses a
distance. Still they swore and Gu
at me, trying to wear me out; and 1
was trying work. A little delay, tn,
least accident, might enable the othe
man to come to their help, or made
moiselle, for all I knew, might shoe
me with my own pistol; and confes
was unfeignedly glad when luck,
a.