Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-02-04
CHAPTER XVIII.

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. had barely reached his side,
however, when a man flung a handful of |
sand full in Duponceau's face, temporar-
fly binding him, at the same moment |
that another leaped up the trellis and
vaulted over the balcony rail. l 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 / 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. He
lay there painting a second, his arms about
my back, while / tried to get my hands
upon his chest to push myself up. Sud
denly his grip frightened, and, with a 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 lIghtened, 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 groan, and the man lay Hat on
his back, Charles securely kneeling on
him while struggled to my feet.
Meantime Duponceau, his sight clear
again, had held tho 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
lers.
1t was high time. Bafied at the bal
cony, the enemy were 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 l found In
my den l 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-
tering the upper part of the door and car
rying 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 bulk up the barricade, we tried to
stay It against the nsTt 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 1t. cared little now
II all the furnitunre were beaten into
splinters.
"Now !" cried Duponceau. There was
a boom, crash, and the battering-rom
shot half way into the house. As II
cleaved away the door, Duponceau leaped
high on to the wreck Of the table and laid
about him with his sword. saw one
man fall sideways, and the rest, startled
into fear by this, man with eyes ablaze
stand, hesitate, and fall back.
"Come on r. he cried. There Is room
for two abreasti" But no one came on
the passage through that open doorway
looked dubious.
A hurried conference, a quick dispersal
and then the enemy was back, armed witt
clubs cut from the woods. Now they came
on with a rush, and the battle Joined
Pistols were discarded; 1t was to be 4
fight Of our old rusty swords, and stick
found by Charles, and the stats Of thu
pines. Two men leaped into the breacl
and fell on Duponceau, another slipped II
and fell to Rodney's care, while Charles
and I gripped our weapons and waited
Duponceau thrust at one Of his assail
ants and with jerk threw the othe
across the broken table almost at m,
feet. A blow aimed at my head fell OF
Charles staff, and he had the man reelinl
in a corner with a sudden thrust of hi
arm. Another man followed, and he an,
I laid about each other, blow falling OF
sword, and sword on pine-wood. We ha
the advantage in that we stood on tn
chairs, the table, and what was left O
the door, and the enemy had to sprin
against our entrenched position. Face t
face with us, toppling over the broke
furniture, their ardor passed, and graC
ually we drove them back, pressing theI
out Of the doorway harder than they ha
pressed in. The man opposite me aime
savage blow, lodged, and, grapplin
with him, threw him with an my strengt
across the table. From there Duponcea
rolled him out against his comrades. A
this time Monsieur Pierre had fought Ill
a demon, but now one man fell again
his legs, while another struck him a CLAN
ing blow across the shoulders, and befo
he could gain his footing he fell from Il
table back into the room, striking again
the settle. He lay there still Rodn
was in his place, and l jumped best
him.
Now r. / cried, and moment lat
we had What waa left Of the enemy sa.
" at bay.
The attacking party gathered togeth
and, With many Ill looks at us fna
SitadBSW. Charles pulled the man he b