My Lady of Doubt

faced about, I a

nts," he said sarcastically. "'Tis far enough

the grass. "Strip to the white, sir, and then we can s

lear enough, as well as his methods for keeping others away. This knowledge merely nerved me to steadiness; she would hear of it all later and understand. The fellow's right to resent the small attentions I had shown to Mistress Mortimer I ques

lways prefer that an opponent have. I was young, agile, cool-headed, instructed since early boyhood by my father, a rather famous swordsman, in the mysteries of the game, yet I preferred that Grant should deem me a novice. With this in mind, and in order that I might better study the

ctice-ah! that was a lucky turn of the wrist! So you do know a trick or two? Perhaps you have a parry for that thrust as well! Ah! an inch mo

and of longer reach, yet his tricks were old, and he relied more on strength than subtlety of fence. Our swords gleamed against each other in the glitter of the stars, both content with thrust and parry, as we circled, watchful for some opening. Then, con

e exclaimed. "Been out before, I take it. But I'll show you s

'll need it now," I replied short

r swords tasted blood, he slicing my forearm, I piercing his shoulder, yet neither wound sufficed to bring any cessation of effort. We were mad now with the fever of it, and struggling to kill, panting fiercely, our faces flushed, the perspiration dripping from our bodies, our swords d

man, Tolston, until I get at the reason for this fighting. Who

t. The only open passage led directly toward the river, and I raced through the black night down the slope as though all the fiends of hell were after me. I heard shouts, oaths, but there was no firing, and was far enough ahead to be invisible by the time I attained the bank. An open barge lay there, a mere black smudge, and I stumbled blindly across this, dropping silently over its side into the water. It was not thought, but breathless inability to attempt more, which kept

saw him plainly enough. What did yo

He called hims

e among those coal sheds. That is the only way he could have disappeared so sudd

guards left behind were still on the deck above me. Then one of the fellows sat

like to be an hour layin' hands on the lad, an' all we got t

ord belt, letting it, sword and all, sink silently into the river. I must cross to the opposite bank somehow, and would have to dispense with the weapon. Inch by inch, my fingers gripping the narrow slat to which I clung,

th a Captain of Rangers-Grant was the name; maybe you know the man?-behind one of the stands. Old Hollis heard the clash of the steel; an' he called to us, an' the whole bunch started on a run. It was too dark to see much, but we jumped in an' pulled 'em

t him," returned

ore both ways, an' Carter has got his fellers ridin' the outposts.

nto the air, which a puff of

hit the water. I'm dead sure o' that, though I didn't see the first thing. It's my

yonder; if he was a spy he'

eels. Besides, there's plenty of his kind over in those Jerseys who'd t

, and the speaker

tone wall. They 're sure devils for that kind o' skirmis

guard, statione

landin', an' a company of Yagers down at Gloucester. There

ehension was almost a certainty. My sole apparent chance lay in the Jerseys, and I must reach the opposite shore, and attain cover before daylight. To my mind there was no reason why this could not be accomplished. The swimming of the river was not beyond my power; I could float down under water for a hundred yards, and then, concealed by the night, strike out for the eastern shore. The current might sweep me down stream another hundred yards before my feet touched bottom. That ought to bring me to a comparatively s

turn, yet not daring to make the venture with those fellows sitting there, and silently gazing out across the water. At last I heard them get to their feet, and tramp about on the flat deck of the barge, the low murmur of their