Part 4 (2/2)
His interference, however, would have been too late, and in another instant the young Irish the sward, but for a second individual who had watched the foul play--one who had been suspecting it all along The sword of Santander seen flying off, as if struck out of his grasp, and his ar froers, were all nearly simultaneous incidents, as also the crack of a rifle and a cloud of blue ses, and half-concealing the colossal figure of Cris Rock, still seated on the box Out of that cloud caed voice of the Texan, ords which made all plain--
”Ye darned Creole cuss! Take that for a treetur an' a cowart! Strip the skunk! He's got sumthin' steely under his shi+rt; I heerd the chink o' it”
Saying which he bounded down fro over the water-ditch, and rushed on towards the spot occupied by the combatants
In a dozen strides he was in their midst, and before either of the two seconds, equally astonished, could interfere, he had caught Santander by the throat, and tore open the breast of his shi+rt!
Underneath was then seen another shi+rt, not flannel, nor yet linen or cotton, but link-and-chain steel!
CHAPTER EIGHT
A DISGRACED DUELLIST
Impossible to describe the scene which followed, or the expression upon the faces of thoseas he was big, still kept hold of hirown h it were but a child And there, sure enough, under the torn flannel shi+rt, all could see a doublet of chain armour, impenetrable to sword's point as plate of solid steel
Explanation this of why Carlos Santander was so ready to take the field in a duel, and had twice left his antagonist lifeless upon it It explained also hen leaping across the water-ditch, he had dropped so heavily upon the farther bank Weighted as he was, no wonder
By this ti that so froround; the jarveys, in sy, ”Sha of chivalry in his nature--the surroundings teach and invite it--and now the detected scoundrel see as such, seeing the imposture, which had been alike practised on hi him scornfully in the face, hissed out the word ”_Lache_!”
Then turning to Kearney and Crittenden he added--
”Let that be entle and ready to take his place--with either of you”
”It's perfectly satisfactory, monsieur,” frankly responded the Kentuckian, ”so far as I'm concerned And I think I may say as much for Captain Kearney”
”Indeed, yes,” assented the Irish: ”We absolve you, sir, fro panoply till now;” as he spoke, pointing to the steel shi+rt
The French-Creole haughtily, but courteously, bowed thanks Then, facing oncethe ”_Lache_” strode silently away froround
They had all mistaken the character of the individual, who, despite a so face, was evidently a man of honour, as he had proved hiated the Texan, still keeping Santander in fir!” simultaneously shouted the two hackney-drivers, who seeraced duellist as if he had ”bilked” them of a fare
”So I say, too,” soleood for the like o' him; a man capable o' sech a cowardly, ”
Then, with an interrogating look at Crittenden, he added: ”Which is't to be, lootenant?”
”Neither, Cris,” answered the Kentuckian ”If I h punishot so much as a spark of shame or conscience--”
”Conshence!” exclai ”Sech a skunk don't know theupon his prisoner, and shaking him till the links in the steel shi+rt chinked, ”I feel as if I ked drive the blade o' h the his knife fro manner
”Don't, Rock! Please don't!” interposed the Kentuckian, Kearney joining in the entreaty ”He's not worth anger, o”