Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1910-02-05
CHAPTTR XVIII

bis hand, holding the balcony. Mems
heads were to be seen just above the
flooring Of the porch, where the invaders
had climbed by means Of my trellises, but
the owners Of those heads seemed very lit
tie disposed to come farther. They had
no reserves to cover their attack from the
the protection Of the dunes, and Dupon-
ceau was proclaiming that he would be-
head the first rascal that raised himself
another inch At the ring OF determine
ton In his voice, no wonder that no one
came on. l had barely reached his side,
however, when man flung handful Of
sand full In Duponceau's face, temporar-
lily binding him, at the same moment
that another leaped up the trellis and
vaulted over the balcony rail. met him
face to face, and recognized the surly chap
who had spied on me that first day from
the woods. He had not gained his balance
when l fell upon him, hoping to topple
him back against the rail. Instead his
feet shot out from under him, and clutch
Ing at me, he fell fat on the balcony. lie
lay there painting second, his arms about
my back, while l tried to get my hands
upon his chest to push myself up. Sud
denly his grip frightened, and, with lurch,
he rolled me over, so that now | lay un-
derneath and pinned by his arms. Then
he tried my game. and, hands on my chest,
sought to drive the breath from my body.
He was heavy, and l felt myself going
going. drawing each breath harder. see
ing red more DULY, when with jerk the
pressure ightened, and ! looked up to see
Charles, his brawny arms about the mans
shoulders slowly but inexorably throwing
him over on his side. His hands relaxed,
there was a groan, and the man lay fat on
his back, Charles securely kneeling on
him while l struggled to my feet.
Meantime Duponceau, his sight clear
again, had held the balcony, and more,
had driven the men down the supports by
striking with his sword over the edge.
Throw him over" he commanded us
now. and quickly we had the hapless crea-
ture up on the railing and had dropped
him into the sand below. He fell with a
soft thud, and we turned to other mat
tiers.
1t was high time. Bafiied at the bal
cony, the enemy we're already trying to
batter In the front door. At the first
sounds below-stairs, Rodney had drawn
my dinner-table and the heavy oak settle
across the door, and fortified it with every
heavy weight indoors Now the batter
ing began, and Duponceau and Charles
Joined him while with an axe / found In
my den | hacked away the trellises that
climbed to the balcony. Verify the fight
was hot when / would cut down my own
property.
Crash-crash A heavy log struck the
front door and ripped away a panel. The
log was withdrawn, there was a shout
and again came the thudding crash, splin-
tsring the upper part of the door and car
yying clear In to the settle. l was mad,
mad through and through, at the thought
OF these desperadoes, and glance at
Charles face told me that he was the same
We built up the barricade, we tried to
stay 1t against the nsxt assault, but this
time the upper part OF the door burst In
ward, and we were almost face to face
with the foe, Rodney and crammed the
dining-room table into place, and threw
the chairs behind It, | cared little now
II all the furniture were beaten into
splinters,
"Now p cried Dupohceau. There wal
a boom, a crash. and the battering-rou
shot half way into the house. AS i
cleaved away the door, Duponceau leapeC
high on to the wreck OF the table and LAID
about him with his sword. saw ont
man fall sideways, and the rest, startled
into fear by this man with eyes ablaze
stand, hesitate, and fall back.
-Come on !" he cried. There is room
for two abreast" But no one came on
the passage through that open doorwa,
looked dubious.
A hurried conference, quick dispersal
and then the enemy was back, armed wit
clubs cut from the woods. Now they cam
on with rush, and the battle Joined
Pistols were discarded; 1t was to be
fiRht of our old rusty swords, and stick
found by Charles, and the STATS Of th
pines. Two men leaped into the breac
and fell on Duponceau, another slipped
and fell to Rodneys care, while Charlie
and | gripped our weapons and waite,
Duponceau thrust at one of his assai
ants and with a jerk threw the othS
across the broken table almost at m
feet. A blow aimed at my head fell o
Charles staff. and he had the man reelin
In a corner with a sudden thrust of h
arm. Another man followed, and he an
I laid about each other. blow falling o
sword, and sword on pine-wood. We ha
the advantage in that we stood on II
chairs, the table, and what was left ,
the door, and the enemy had TO sprir
against our entrenched position. Face
face with us, topping over the broke
furniture, their ardor passed, and grai
ually we drove them back, pressing the
out of the doorway harder than they hf
pressed In. The man opposite me alm'
a savage blow, lodged, and, grapplil
with him, threw him with all my streng
across the table. From there Duponces
rolled him out against his comrades.
this time Monsieur Pierre had fought II
a demon, but now one man fell again
his legs, while another struck him a glar
ing blow across the shoulders. and befo
he could gain his footing he fell from I
table back into the room, striking again
the settle. He lay there still. Rodn
was in his place, and 1 jumped best
him.
Now r I cried, and a moment lai
we had what vas oft Of the enemy sa