Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-06-20

the want of rest. the fear, were tell
ing even on the duchess-were sad
to see. / was sore and stiff myself
The wound l had received so mys-
teriously had bled afresh, probably
during last nights fight We needed
all our courage TO put a brave face
on the matter and bear UP and go out
again into the air, which for the first
week in May was cold and nipping.,
Suspense and anxiety had told in var
ious ways on all Of us. While / felt
a fierce anger against those who were
driving us to these straits, Master Ber-
tie was nervous and excited, alarmed
for his wife and child and inclined to
see an enemy in every bush.
However, we cheered up a little
the boat could cross without much
risk. We had to go over in two de-
tachments, and II was nearly an hour
past noon when we all stood on the,
farther bank and bade farewell to.
the honest soul whose help had been
Of so much Importance to us. He told
US we had three leagues to go, and
we hoped to be at rest in Santon by
o'clock.
The three leagues turned out to be
more nearly five, while the road was
so founderous that we had again and
again to quit 1t.
The evening came on, the light
way. so to speak-the women tired
and on the verge of tears, the men
muddy to the waist, savage and impa-
tient 1t was o'clock and dusk was
well upon us before we caught sight Of
the first lights of Santon, and in fear
lest the gates might be shut pressed
forward at such speed as our horses
could compass.
DO you go on" the duchess adjured
us. Anne and 1 will be safe enough
behind you. Let me take the child and
do you ride on. We cannot pass the
night in the fields"
The Importance Of securing admission
was so great that Master BERTHE and I
agreed and cantered on, soon outstrip-
ping our companions, and almost. in the
gloom, losing sight of them. Dark
masses of woods, the last remnants
apparently of a forest, lay about the
road we had to traverse. We were
passing one of these scarcely 300 PAGES
short of the town. and I was turning
following safely, when heard Master
BERTHE, who was a bowshot in front Of
me, give sudden cry.
/ wheeled round hastily to learn the
reason and was just in time to see
three horsemen sweep into the road be-
fore him from the cover of the trees
They were so close to him-and they
lllltu the IDdu-NIldl HIS nurse carried
him among them almost before he
could check ii. or so it seemed to me.
| heard their loud challenge, saw his
arm wave and guessed that his sword
was out. I spurred desperately to Join
him, giving n wild shout of encourage
ment as ! did so. But before I could
come up, or indeed cross half the dis
tance. the scuftle was over. One man
fell headlong from his saddle, one horse
fled riderless down the road and at
sight of this. or perhaps Of me. the
others turned tail without more ado
and made Off, leaving Master BERTHE
In possession of the field. The whole
thing had passed in the shadow of the
wood in less than half a minute. When
/ drew rein by him, he was sheathing
his sword. rs 1t Clarence?" l cried,
eagerly.
mo, no, did not see him. I think
not" he answered. He was breathing
hard and was very much excited. They
were poor swordsmen, for Spaniards, -
he added-'very poor, l thought"
l jumped off my horse and, kneelinS
beside the man. turned him over. He
was badly hurt, II not dying, cut across
the neck. We looked hard at him by
such light as there was and did not
recognize him as one OF our assailantS
of the night before.
II do not think he is a Spaniard," I
said slowly. Then a certain suspicio:i
occurred to my mind, and l stopped
lower over him.
Continued Next Weekly