The state herald., 1912-11-22

VI the nsutlNE. BOtn our SWORDS tasted
blood, he slicing my forearm, pierc-
Ing his shoulder. yet neither wound
suiiiced to bring any cessation of ef-
fort. We were mad now with the fever
OF 1t, and struggling to kill, painting
iiercely, 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 go 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 grufiy. Hold your man,
Tolston. until get at the reason for
this fighting. Who are you? Oh,
Grant! What's the trouble now? The
old thing, eh?"
had no desire to walt 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. ] had gained n 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 fiends of hell were aft
er me. heard shouts. oaths. but
there was no firing, and was far
enough ahead to be invisible by the
time / attained the bank. An open
barge lay there. mere black smudge.
and ! stumbled blindly across this.
dropping silently over Its side into the
water. II 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 ! was not there.
One blade prlcked me slightly. but
held on. sinking yet deeper into the
stream. could see the dim outline
OF heads peering 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.
Grant7"
How do know lie called himself
Fortesque,"
Sure. the same one Carter was
! sent out hunting after. Well. he
lodged down there among those coal
sheds This ls the only way he could
have disappeared 10 suddenly. Come
on. all OF you. except Moore and Car.
taret. and wen beat the shore"
heard them scramble across to the
bank. but there were sounds also
proving the guards left behind were
ntill on the deck above NE Then one
Of the fellows sat down on the edge OF
the barge. his feet dangling within n
few inches OF my head.
Might MS well take Il easy. nm. he
said AElly. They're like 10 be an
hour layin' hands on the lad. an all
we got TO do Is see he don't fox back
this way. Got any tobacco. matof"
The other must have produced tho
necessary weed. for there was a scrap.
| Ing OF rlnt and steel. CLEAN OF nro
glintlng on the water. and then tho
punron, odor waited 10 me In pun Of
smoke. with one hand. ! unbucklcd
my sword belt. letting r., sword and
ali. sink silently into the river. I
must cross TO the opposite bank some,
how. and would have TO dispense with
the weapon. Inch by inch, my nngers
gripping the marrow slat 10 which I
clune. worked slowly toward III.
stern OF the bargq. making no, no
much aH ripple In the water. and
keeping well hidden below the bulge
OF the side The voices above dfonud
along In conversation. Of which
oaugh, few words.
who was hoT You mean the lad
they're after down yondor1 oh. mind
now, you came up later after we'd
siarted the chase. Holy Mother.
don't know much myself. now ! come
10 think Of II, Hc looked like n brit
ishor. wha, I saw Of him. an he was
nshtin' with n Captain Of Ranscrs-
Grant was tho name. maybe you know
tho manf-behind one Of the s,ands.
They'll never &c, him" returned
the other soiemniy.
"Beeause i,'s my notion he syum