The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-23
tCoatinued.l

gers tighten on the blade of his knife. 'Do they know of your internal treach- ery?"
 You lie. Giuseppe. You do know, and you shall answer to me"
 "who in the name of hell made you mastery" he growled fiercely; and Drako led chorus of jeers at me.
 Hold your snarling tongues" cried turning on them. They fell back a step. murmuring and eyeing me sul- lenIy from under lowering brows.
 But the incident nearly cost me my life. The moment my eyes left Giu- scopes face, he whipped out his knife and sprang toward me ready to strike. I jumped back just s-tie blade flashed through the air. The next instant my own blade was barred and the fight had begun in earnest.
 As we stood watching each other like wildcats waiting for the chance to spring, Drako made another dast- ardiy attempt to help his friend by att tacking me from behind. heard his rush. but dared not take my eyes from my antagonists face; and then Iheard Luigfs voice:
 No. no. Drako. Fair play. Glu- seppe was the first to draw After that not a word more was spoken; and when after a feint of Giuseppe's our positions were changed, I saw the Greek had been disarmed. and that his weapon was in Luigi's hand.
 We two were not badly matched. Giuseppe was somewhat taller than II; but | carried more hesh. We were both strong; but I judged that could outlast him. had another advantage, moreover He was beside himself with passion; his eyes blazed and his furi- ous eagerness to kill me so mastered him that the point of his weapon quiv- cred. The sight of the barred knives had wrought him to frenzy. On me the effect was the reverse had been hot enough in the moment be- 1 fore we faced one another; but pres ence of danger sobered me instantly. for knew that my life depended upon my keeping cool head.
 His rage soon began to show itself | in his lighting. He tired of waiting | for the chance to get t~through my guard and began to feint. making sharp, sud- i den rushes sprihging here. darting there, lifting his knife for a blow, and Ieaping back; using every ruse to force me back or get me off my guard, ana displaying wonderful agility and 1 fanesse.
 was glad to see his tactics. neither gave ground nor took it; let l ting him tire himself if he would; and reserved my strength for the struggle | to come later. My eye never left his I for a second: and as he circled round me he was careful to keep we'll be- yond my reach.
 Once only he came a few inches too 1 far. having misjudged the distance; but with a dexterous stoop and leap he saved himself.
 | It was a narrow escape and affected his nerve. The expression of his eyes changed. Some of the confidence with which he had commenced the light | waned; and in it's place doubt of the issue began to show. I could read this signal He had held the same opinion as the rest; thai the change In me had meant loss oi courage. He had started with ful belief that he would have an cnsy vic tory and had mistaken my ste neth' od of lighting for loss of ski ths result of cowardice.
 The knowledge that only by a hairs breadth had he saved himself from de feat had changed all that. He had
 found me ready to use chance when T l had come; and began to realize how greatly he had misunderstood me. How knarrow his escape had been was em- 1 phasized by a cry of dismay from ont or two of the others.
 He was now breathing hard with his l exertions, too; and wishful to regain his wind, began to fight more warily. But 1t was not my cue to give him the time for that; and began to press the fight from my side. stepping Tor ward with a sudden feint I drove hiIr back. As he stepped back I advanced and he tripped. He saved himself from | a fall; but once more the incident dis l concerted him.
 | The dogged method of fighting was all opposed to his nature, moreover He lacked the patience and the self.
 control: and a moment later resumed | his former tactics But he was wilder now. Doubt had laid it's hand on him
 He was eager for the finish; bafflec bv my steady refusal to be misled by his feints into giving him the chance he sought. and began to grow desper' ate.
 l saw now that I should win: and I something of thel feeling must have | shown itself in my eyes, for he let out A violent oath as he made his nexl effort to draw me into a false move.
 Ii was almost his last. In his rage I he misjudged the distance again. ana again my blade only just missed his body, slashing his arm as he sprane
 There was another murmur from the 1 others as the blood was drawn. ana fin his eyes the unmistakable sign oi
 fear was blendid with his rage. Then, by one of those chances which l will come in a combat of the sort WI
 feinted at the same moment. For q
 second we were both within striking
 distance and both unprepared t' strike.
 Fortunately, was just flash thc
 quicker and gripped his right hanc
 with my left. while his hand wal I Eroping vainly for my wrist Holding
 my grip. I crashed the shaft of my
 blade full into his mouth and struck him to ground. As we fell together bent his wrist back and wrested hi.
 xveapon away, and the next instant ht Iay asprawl on his back the fear oi
 death in his wide eyes as he glared IT at the glistening blade held threat 1 eningly in my uplifted hand.
 By all the laws of the fight, his life
 was mine, and not murmur would have been heard had I plunged mS | knife into his heart. He had been the arst to draw; had changed the th,ne from a quarrel to a blood feud; he hac
 sought to kill me; and had the enc | been different he would have thrust bis knife between my ribs with lest oompunction than I should have fell
 in staying a dog.
 But I could not take his life as h'
 iav there in my power. Had the
 chance come in the course of the fight
 [ should have struck but he was dowr
 and homeless at my mercy; and l could
 not strike.
 You can have your life. Giuseppe
 but vou know now who Is master here