The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-01-22
directed the sub-officer, .and you will


The room was quickly cleared, and
we confronted each other in the Gen.
ter of it. Dulce stood by the ornate
mantel, one hand upon 1t to support
herself, the other pressed against her
heart, her face pale, lips parted, and
haunting fear in the deep blue eyes.
turned to face her, and raised my
blade in salute. you will see me,
dear one" said i in French, Twin an
other contest with the sword"
"Please God, Loren" she whispered.
"We contend, Major Garde," said
PM with light laugh, ''for pretty
prize indeed"
"Aye, my colonel, the prize is worth
our best efforts" l knew that, losing.
l should leave her helpless. The NOR
row, with it's firing squad, gave me no
uneasiness; it was with this hour that
l had to deal.
''Then guard, Senior"
AYE, my colonel"
His overconfidence, because of the
weakened state of my right arm.
might, l imagined, be handicap to
him, so / permitted him to beat down
my guard in the first wild. thrusting
attack that he made, parrying only
enough to protect my body from his
drives.
He was good, but not a master
swordsman, and-but for my injury
he would not have been in any sense
a match for me- l must use, there
fore, defensive tactics until he should
tire, for greater strength and greater
endurance was mine.
He laughed aloud, for / think he felt
the weakness of my wrist, the former
strength of which had been my pride.
/ could only offer my blade in parry.
yet l kept his point away from me.
for l was quicker on my feet than he,
and / had more complete control Of
my body.
smiled reassuringly, yet she must have
seen my helplessness, for there was no
answering smile on her face-only that
expression of haunting terror And
new and reckless determination pos
sessed me. l would win because l
must win, would kill this man if
had to do it even after his steel had
found my heart.
Ny benumbed arm grew weaker, so
that could barely feel the blows that
/ tried to parry. Had / not twisted
my body in swift, ridiculous gestures
his point would have found me dozen
times
He cried out in veXatiOn: "Do you
fence, Senior, or do you thus take your
afternoon exercise? Stand up and
fight. Are you unfamiliar with the
sword?"
He attacked furiously, and l must
needs retreat before his wild frenzy,
keeping clear of the walls, and offer
ing Intellectual parry until my arm
had lost it's vigor and my wrist its
power to turn his blows. The weapon,
wrenched from my grasp, fell, clatter-
ing to the floor, and PM drove at
my chest.
Realizing that was unarmed, he
drew back, waiting. "Pick it up,
Garde. l do not stab a defenseless
man."
Yet l think, but for the presence of
the Senorita, he would have done so.
l knew that, as far as fencing might
be concerned, my right arm would
never save me, so l gripped the hilt
of the sword with my left hand. My
left arm and wrist would be, l was
sure, inept, but they would lack no
1.-THE of strength, and strength might
be, after all-in contest with as un-
skilful a duelist as the colonel-suf-
ficient.
AS his dashing charges became more
deliberate, and the force of them re-
Taxed, my confidence increased, for the
professional smile had left his lips,
his dancing eyes grew somber, and
pallor Of fear touched the olive Of his
face.
Then l advanced in attack, slash
ing and thrusting with no skill but
with a deal of power, for the blows
that he parted shook him from heel
to crown. Had / one arm only, my
colonel, you should have vanquished
me with ease-but now"
He gasped fervent oath, and
continued: "'You would leave an or
der for my execution-eh, my sophist
and Providence has ordered yours.
You would sell to the Senorita the
life of her brother? A clever scheme,
and worthy of YOU"
"Carraca !" he gasped. He made
one last, incautious lunge at me and
missed. The impetus of his falling
body drove my point into his chest.
He went to his knees, his fingers
fastened around the naked blade.
"That order of execution, sergeant"
he cried, you will see to it; you will
take him to the calabozo, and tomor-
row morning-as early as ligh,-as-
as-early :"
He crashed, face down, upon the
floor, and the sword broke under the
impact of his fall
Now / felt the Senorita's arms
around my neck, felt the tender touch
of her lips, and l heard her voice call
ing my name over and over again.
(To BE CoNTINUED)
y z y e Y y Y y.