The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-05-04

blood, he slfcing my forearm, / pierre
ing his shoulder, yet neither wound
suftlced to bring any cessation of ef-
fort. We were mad now with the fever
Of 1t. and struggling to kill, painting
fiercely, our faces flushed, the perspir-
alton dripping from our bodies, our
swords darting swiftly back and
forth. He was my match, and more.
and. had We been permitted to 90 on
to the end. would have worn me down
by sheer strength. Suddenly, above
the clash Of steel, came the sound of
voices: our blades were struck up. and
the dark forms of men pressed in be.
tween us.
Stop 1t, you hotheads!" some one
commanded gruffly. Hold your man,
Tolston. until I get at the reason for
this fighting. Who are you? Oh,
Grant! What's the trouble nowf The
old thing. eh?"
had no desire to wait his answer.
confident that Grant was sufficiently
angry to blurt out everything he knew.
They were all facing his way, actu.
ated by the recognition. Breathless
still, yet quick to seize the one and
only chance left, grabbed up my
jacket from the grass. and sprang into
the darkness. l had gained hundred
feet before those behind grasped the
meaning Of my unexpected flight, and
then the tumult Of voices only sent
me flying faster. realizing the pursuit.
The only open passage led directly
toward the river. and raced through
the black night down the slope as
though all the flends of hell were aft
err me. l heard shouts. oaths. but
there was no firing, and was far
enough ahead to be invisible by tho
time l attained the bank. An omen
barge lay there, mere black smudge.
and l stumbled blindly across this.
dropping silently over its side into the
water 1t was not thought. but breath.
less inability to attempt more. which
kept me there. clinging to slat on
the side of the barge. SO completely
submerged in the river, as to be in,
visible from above Swearing fierce.
ly. my pursuers stormed over the
barge. swinging their swords along
the edges to be sure l was not there,
One blade pricked me slightly, but
held on. sinking yet deeper into the
stream. ! could see the dim outline
Of heads poering over, but was not dis.
covered. The same gruff voice which
had interrupted the duel broke through
the noise:
Il tell you he turned to the left;
saw him plainly enough. What did
you say the fellows name was
Grant,"
"How do know? He called himself
Fortesque."
Sure; the same ono Carter was
sent out hunting after. We'll, j.
lodged down there among those ca
sheds. This is the only way he co"
have disappeared SO suddenly. G,
on. all of you. except Moore ana
taret, and we'll beat the shore
l heard them scramble across 1,
bank, but there were sounds
proving the guards left behind
still OH the deck above me. ThcH
Of the fellows sat down on the ca"
tho barge. his feet dangling witt
few inches Of my head
might us we'll take 1t easy, BILL il
said lazily They're like to be an
hour lnyin' hands on the lad, an I'll
we got TO do Is see he don't fox back
this way. Got any tobacco, mate?"
The other must have produced the
necessary weed, for there was scrap.
| ing Of flint and STEEL a CLEAN of fire
glinting on the water. and then the
pungent odor waited to me in puff Of
smoke. With one hand, l unbuckled
my sword belt, letting it, sword and
all. sink silently into the river. ]
must cross to the opposite bank some.
how, and would have to dispense with
the weapon. Inch by inch, my fingers
gripping the narrow slat to which
chung, worked slowly toward the
stern Of the barge. making not SO
much as a ripple in the water, and
keeping we'll hidden below the bulge
Of the side. The voices above droned
along in conversation. of which I
caught few words.
"Who was he? You mean the lad
they're after down yonder? Oh. mind
now, you came up later after we'd
started the chase Holy Mother, l
don't know much myself, now come
to think of It. He looked like Brit
fisher. what saw Of him, an he was
fghtin' with Captain Of Rangers
Grant was the name; maybe you know
the man?-behind one Of the stands"
They'll never get him." returned
the other solemnly.
because it's my notion he swum
for 1t. / was closest down the bank,
an somethin' hit the water"
"But them's the Jerseys over yon.
der; II he was q spy he'd be headin'
the other way"
cts little he'd think of the way
with the gang Of US. yelpin' at his
heels. Besides, there's plenty Of his
kind over in those Jerseys who'd take
good care Of the likes Of him."
"But there's guard stationed