Part 4 (1/2)

After a few thrusts, Santander seemed surprised at his fruitless efforts Then over his face came a lookexperience he had been so baffled, for it was his first encounter with an adversary who could keep a _straight arht _tierce_ as well as _carte_, and kne to practise it For a ti it by the other's i, which kept hiuard, but as the sword-play proceeded, he began to discover the weak points of his antagonist, and, with a well-directed thrust, at length sent his blade through the Creole's outstretched ar it from wrist to elbow

An ill-suppressed cry of triumph escaped from the Kentuckian's lips, while with eyes directed towards the other second, he seemed to ask--

”Are you satisfied?”

Then the question was formally put

Duperon looked in the face of his principal, though withouthim It seemed as if he already divined what the ansould be

”_A la mort_!” cried the Creole, with a deadly emphasis and bitter determination in his dark sinister eyes

”To the death be it!” was the response of the Irisher Nor strange he should, since he no he had crossed swords with ahis life

There was a second or two's pause, of which Santander availed hi a handkerchief round his wounded ar to the code, but tacitly granted by his gallant antagonist

When the two again closed and caer by their sides At the words ”_a la mort_” they had withdrawn--each to the rear of his principal--the mode of action in a duel to the death

Their _role_ henceforth was siht of interference, unless either of the principals should attempt foul play

This, however, could not well occur By the phrase ”_a la , well-known to the Orleans duellist When spoken, it is no longer a question of sword-skill, or who draws first blood; but a challenge giving free licence to kill--whichever can

In the present affair it was followed by silence more profound and more intense than ever, while the attention of the spectators, now including the seconds, seemed to redouble itself

The only sound heard was a whistling of wings The fog had drifted away, and several large birds were seen circling in the air above, looking doith stretched necks, as if they, too, felt interested in the spectacle passing underneath No doubt they did; for they were vultures, and could see--whether or not they scented it--that blood was being spilled

Once hter of the eagle; and out of the depths, through long, shadowy arcades, the reat white owl--fitthese o in itself--the co sword-blades with a clash that frightened owl, eagle, and vulture, for an instant causing theh now on both sides the contest was carried on with increased anger, there was not n of it On neither any rash sword-play If they had lost teuards and points, though perhaps ed, displayed as ain Kearney felt surprised at the repeated thrusts of his antagonist, which kept him all the time on the defensive, while Santander appeared equally astonished and discoht as a yardstick, with elbow never bent Could the Creole have but added six inches to his rapier blade, in less than ten seconds the young Irishman would have had nearly so much of it passed between his ribs

Twice its point touched, slightly scratching the skin upon his breast, and drawing blood

For quite twenty uinary strife continued without any e to either It was a spectacle so a sight to look upon Kearney's shi+rt of finest white linen showed like a butcher's; his sleeves encri his rapier hilt, the same--not with his own blood, but that of his adversary, which had run back along the blade; his face was spotted by the drops dashed over it fro wands of steel

Gory, too, was the face of Santander; but gashed as well Bending forward to put in a point, the Creole had given his antagonist a chance, resulting to himself in a punctured cheek, the scar of which would stay there for life

It was this brought the co stroke Santander, vain of his personal appearance, on feeling his cheek laid open, suddenly lost command of hiardless of the consequences

He succeeded inaih the buckle of the young Irishled

Only for half a second; but this was all the skilled swordsan, his elboas seen to bend This to obtain room for a thrust, which was sent, to all appearance, horound expected to see Santander fall; for by the force of the blow and direction Kearney's blade should have passed through his body, splitting the heart in twain Instead, the point did not appear to penetrate even an inch! As it touched, there ca of coin in a purse, with si Irish as in a trance of astonishlearass at his feet

It seemed a mischance, fatal to Florence Kearney, and only the veriest dastard would have taken advantage of it But this Santander was, and oncehis blade to _tierce_, he was rushi+ng on his now defenceless antagonist, when Crittenden called ”Foul play!” at the sa forward to prevent it