Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1921-07-22


worsted him at all, to DO II with his
own weapon. The C7tire community
surrounded us, leaving a clear space
about one hundred feet IN diameter
for our battle.
Fad first attempted to rush me down
as bull might a wolf, but was much
too quick for him, and each time
side-stepped his rushes he would go
lunging past me, only to receive q
nick from my sword upon his arm OF
back. He was soon streaming bloot
from a half dozen minor wounds, but
I could not obtain an opening to de-
liver an effective thrust. Then he
changed his tactics, and fighting warily
and with extreme dexterlty, he tried
to do by science what he was unable
to do by brute strength.
We circled for some time without
doing much damage on either side; the
long, straight, needle-like swords fash
Ing In the sunlight, and ringing out
upon the stiffness as they crashed to-
gether with each effective parry.
Finally Fad, realizing that he was tir-
ing more than I, evidently decided to
close in and end the battle In final
blaze of glory for himself; Just as he
rushed me a binding fash Of light
struck full In my eyes, so that i could
only leap blindly to one side In an
effort to escape the mighty blade that
II seemed could already feel In my
vitals. / was only partially SUCCESS
full, as a sharp pain in my left Shout
der attested, but in the sweep of my
glance as sought to again locate my
adversary, a sight met my astonished
gaze which paid me well for the wound
the temporary blindness had caused
me. There, upon Dejah Thoris' chariot,
stood three figures, for the purpose
evidently Of Witnessing the encounter
above III heads Of the intervening
Thanks. There we're Dejah Thoris.
Sola, and Sarkoja, and as my fleet
ing glance swept over them a little
tableau was presented which will
stand craven in my memory to the
day of my death.
AS / looked, Dejah Thoris turned
unon Sarkoja with the fury Of young
tigress and struck something from her
upralsed hand; something which
flashed In the sunlight as 1t spun to
blinded me at that crucial moment
of the fight, and how Sarkoja had
found a way 10. kill me without her.
self delivering the final thrust An
other thing | saw, too which almost
lost my life for me then and there, for
ii took my mind for the fraction OF
f. an instant entirely from my antago'
MIST; for as Dejah Thoris struck the
tiny mirror from her hand, Sarkoja,
her face livid with hatred and bafiied
rage whipped ont her dagger and
aimed q terrific blow at Deiah Thoris
Sofa, sprang between them; the last
| saw was the great knife descending
upon her shielding breast.
My enemy had recovered from hh
thrust and was making II extremely
interesting for me, so ! reluctantly
gave ny tAtchNiVh W thc WYNN "a
hand, but my mind was not upon the
battle.
We rushed each other furiously time
after time, til suddenly, feeling the
sharp point of his sword at my breast
in thrust could neither parry MOI
escape, threw myself unon him witt
outstretched sword ard with all the
weight of my body. determined tina,
/ would not die alone If | could pre-
vent 1t. l felt the STEEL tear into my
chest, all went black before me, my
head whirled in dizziness, and l fell
my knees giving beneath me.