The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-05-30
cAAPTER va
The One Hope.

no OU@ vtOpSs
Az he stopped and faced about. ] as
Instantly halted.
Perhaps this spot may satisfy your
requirements" he said sarcastically.
otis far enough away at least, and
the light Is not 80 bad"
TT will do I replied, and threw my
scarlet jacket on the grass. Strip to
the white, sir, and then we can see
fairly we'll where to strike. That's bet
ter. On guardl"
He came at me ferceIy enough. con.
tident Of his mastery OF the weapon,
and, no doubt. expecting me to prove
an easy victim Of his skin. His first
onslaught, a trick thrust under my
guard. caused me to give back step
or two, and this small success yielded
him the over-confdence / always pre-
fer that an opponent have. ! was
young, agile, cool-headed. instructed
since early boyhood by my father .
rather famous swordsman, in the mys-
teries OF the game, yet preferred that
Grant should deem me novice. With
this In mind, and in order that might
better study the mans style. ! re-
NAMED strictly on defense, giving way
slightly before the confident play Of
his steel, content with barely turning
aside the cleaning point before it
pricked me. At first he mistook this
for weakness, snesring at my parties,
as he bore in with increasing reckless
ness.
"a club would be more In your lines
l take It, Mr.. Lieutenant Fortesque, "
he commented sarcastically, ''but I'll
play with you a while for practice
ahi that was 9 lucky turn Of the wrist
So you do know trick or two? Per-
haps you have q parry for that thrust
as welll ALL an inch more and I'd
have pricked you-your defense is
not bad for a boyI BY all the gods. l
tasted blood then--now III give you q
harder nut TO crack"
was lighting silently, with lips
closed outstanding my breath, scarce
ly hearing his comments. Every
stroke, every thrust, gave me insight
of his school, and instinctiyely my
blade leaped forth to turn aside his
point. He was a swordsman, stronger
than /, and Of longer reach, yet hia
tricks were old, and he relied more on
strength than subtlety Of fence. He
countered with skill, laughing and
haunting me. until his jeers made me
hght grimly. with fresh determination
to end the affair.
''By Godl you have q right pretty
thrust from the shoulder" he ex-
claimed. Been out before. ! take 1t.
But I'll show you something you never
learned. Odds, I'll call your boys
playi"
Better hold your breath. for you'll
need it now" / replied shortly. "The
boys play is over with"
Step by step ! began sSernly to forcs
the hghting. driving my point against
him so relentlessly as to hush his
speech. Twice we circled. striking,
countering, lighting. our blades gKt-
tering ominously IN the starlight. our
breathing labore6 with the flerceness
OF the fighting. Both our swords tasted
blood. he slicing my forearm, pierc-
ing his shoulder, yet neither wound
suficed to bring any cessation Of Of
fort. We were mad now with the fever
Of 1t, and struggling to kill, painting
iercely, 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 60 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 Il, you hotheadsl" some one
commanded grufiy. "Hold your man.
TOlston, until / get at the reason for
this lighting. Who are youf Oh,
Grantl What's the trouble now9 The
old thing. chi"
/ had no desire . wait hls answer.
confident that Grant Nas su6iciently