The Argosy — page 111: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BY RIGHT OF SWORD. 303 One of the men, in jumping back out of the way of one of my thrusts, stumbled over the second and sent this one for an instant into Devinsky’s way. I saw my chance, and seized it in an instant. In a trice I rushed at the half prostrate man, and disdaining to kill him when his guard was down, I kicked him with my heavy riding boot with all my force in the face, and sent him reeling back, groaning and half choked with the blood that came gushing out of his nose and mouth, while his sword went rattling across the floor to where Olga stood, looking on aghast, breathless and open mouthed in her fear. But the chance nearly cost me dear, for the man’s companion turned on me and thrust at me with such directness and rapidity as all but ended the fight, for his sword went through the fleshy part of my arm, just above the elbow. Aninch or so nearer the body would have sent it right through my heart. It was the last thrust he ever made, however. ‘The next instant my blade had found his heart, and with a groan he dropped. Before I could withdraw it, however, Devinsky uttered a cry of hate, and dashing at me thrust at my heart with all his strength. He must have killed me but for Olga. ‘That splendid girl had picked up the fallen man’s sword, and now seeing my plight, she sprang forward, at the hazard of her life, crying out ‘‘ Coward,’’ and struck down Devinsky’s sword with all her force. ‘“Good !’’ I cried, and the next minute I had wrenched my weapon free and held the man. ‘Take care. Back to the room, or-behind me, child,’’ I cried, when I heard my opponent curse in his foiled attempt to kill me and saw him turn as if to attack Olga. ‘‘ Now, you butcher, it’s you and I alone; and you or I to live.’’ | ‘As you will,’’ he said, and I saw him clench his teeth and set his face in the way men do who know that they are face to face with a risk where failure means death. My blood was up now, and I meant death, too. He had given up all right to expect anything else, and I had no-mind to let him off. If ever a man had earned death he had. He had heaped on me every indignity that one man could put on another, and to crown it all he had just tried to murder me. I would kill him with less compunction than one kills a dog; and I set about the task with the coolest deliberation and purpose. The scene was a grim and ghastly one enough. The floor was all slippery in places with the blood of the man I had killed, whose body lay huddled up against the wall, as well asof the other who sat on the ground still spitting and coughing and mumbling and cursing from the fearful effects of my kick. In the middle we two stood fighting to the death, watching each other with the fire of hate and blood and lust in our eyes, while Olga, all eagerness, excitement and tension, stood in the doorway watching us with white, drawn face and dilated eyes, the deeply drawn breath coming in spasms through her distended nostrils and slightly parted lips. I forced the fight with all my power, and my blade flashed about my antagonist until all his skill was useless even to defend himself against my Eomichbooks (S@)