The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1913-02-13

terfng ominously In the starlight, our
breathing labored with the f%erceness
OF the fighting. Both our swords tasted
blood, he sllcing my forearm, / pierc.
Ing his shoulder, yet neither wound
suficed to bring any cessation of eff
fort. We were mad now with the fever
OF 1t, and struggling to kill. painting
fercely, our faces flushed, the perspir-
alton dripping from our bodies. our
swords darling 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 II, you hotheads!" some one
commanded grufly. Hold you man.
Tolston. until | get at the reason for
this fighting. Who are you? Oh,
Grant! What's the trouble now? The
old thing. chr"
| had no desire to wait his answer,
confident hat 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, l grabbed up my
Jacket from the grass, and sprang into
the darkness. / had gained a hundred
feet before those behind grasped the
meaning or 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 iends Of hell we're aft
err mo. I 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, a 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 a 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 peering over. but was not dis
covered. The same gruff voice which
had interrupted the duel broke through
the noise:
r'I tell you he turned to the left: ]
saw him plainly enough. What did
you say the fellows name was,
Grant?"
How do 1 knowf lie called himself
FortesQue."
Sure: the same one Carter was
sent out hunting after. Well, he
aeaged dawn there among these coal
sheds. This Is the only way he could
have disappeared so suddenly. Come
on, all of you. except Moore and Car
taret. and we1l beat the shore"
] heard them scramble across to the
bank. but there were sounds also
proving the guards left behind were
still on the deck above me. Then
OF the fellows sat down on the edge OF
the barge. his feet dangling within a
few inches OF my head.
Might as well take It easy. Bill" he
said lazily. They're like to 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. mater"
The other must have produced the
necessary weed. for there was a 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. ! unbuckled
MY sword belt. letting 1t. sword and
all. sink silently into the river. l
mus. cross & the opposite bank some
how, and would have to dispense with
the weapon. Inch by inch. my fingers
gripping the narrow slat to which ]
e.sas 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 q few words. ;
"who was her 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 I come
to think OF IL He looked like a Brit
isher, what I saw Of him. an he vas
fghtin' with q Captain Of Rangers-
Grant was the lame: maybe you know
the Manufacturing one OF the stsndA"
They'll never get him" returned
the other solemnly.
'Bscanss its ny notion hs swum