Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1908-04-11

was beginning to Wayer before my
eyes; their boat seemed floating in the
air; there was u pulsation i'm my ears
louder than that of the oars: l strug
gled and yet l tagged. My knees trem-
bled. Their boat shot nearer now, near
er and nearer. so that | could read the
smile of triumph on the steersmans
dark face and hear his cry of eXulta-
ton. Nearer. and then with a cry
dropped my oars.
Quick" | painted to my companions.
Change places with me! So,' Trem-
bling and out of breath as / was,
crawled between the women and
gained the stern sheets Of the boat. AS
| passed the Mistress Bertram she
Clutched my arm. Her eyes. as they
met mine. flashed fire; her lips were
white. The man steering" she hissed
between her teeth. Leave the others.
He Is Clarence and | fear him
/ nodded but still. as the hostile boat
bore swiftly down upon us. I cast a
glance around to see IL there were any
help at hand. / saw no sign of any.
| saw only the pale blue sky overhead
and the stream flowing swiftly under
the boat | drew my sword. The case
was one rather for despair than Cour-
age. The women were in my charge,
and. II did not acquit myself like a
man now, when should | do so? Bah,
II would soon be over.
There was an instantS confusion in
the other boat as the crew ceased row
ing. and, seeing my attitude. and not
liking II. changed their seats. To my
JOY the man who had hitherto been
steering flung q curse at the others and
came forward TO bear the brunt Of the
encounter. He was tall. sinewy man,
past middle age. with a clean ShaVeu
face. a dark complexion and cruel eyes.
SO he was Master Clarence. Well. he
had the air Of a swOrdsman and a sol
dier. | trembed for the women.
Surrender. YOU fool" he cried 10 me
harshly. In the queens name do you
hear? What do you In this company"
answered nothing, for | was out OF
breath. But softly. my eyes on his.
drew out with my left hand my hunt
ing knife. II | could beat aside his
sword. | would spring upon him and
drive the kn' home with that hand.
So, standing erect in bow and stern, We
faced one another, the man and the boy,
the flush Of rage and eXertion on my
cheek. dark shade on his. And ST.
lently the boats drew together.
Thought Is quick-quiCker than any
thing else in the world, l suppose. for
In some drawn out second before the
boats came together | had time to won
| der where | had seen his face before
and to rack my memory. | knew no
NdSltT 'lhItINt, YET / ldl Sccll luis
man somewhere Another second and
| away with thought. He was CrOuChing
| tor a spring. | drew back a little, then
! lunged-lun8ed with heart and hand.
! Our swords crossed and whistled-just
| CIOsSed--and even as | saw his eyes
| CLEAN behind his point the shock OF the
| two boats coming together flung us
| both backward and apart. 4 moment
We reeled. staggering and throwing out
| wild hands. | StrOve hard to recover
| myself f-nly. | almost did so-then
| caught my foot in Mistress Anne 8
| cloak. which she had left In her place.
! and fell heavily back into the boat
| was up IN mument-On my knees at
| least--.and unhurt. But another was
before me As | stopped. half risen, I
| saw one moment a dark shadow above
me, and the next sheet of fame shone
! before my eyes. and a tremendous
| shock swept all away | fell senSeless
| into the bottom Of the boat Knowing
! nothing OF what had happened to me-
(Contiaued Next Week.I