Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

IN PERILOUS WAYS. 107 my own point, so he could not close. By taking the defensive I found that I was able to avoid o~ parry his thrusts. I also had the advantage of him in reach of arms. Had we been provided with swords I would have had him at my mercy from the first. He now tried to strike down my knife, but we only crossed blades, our: knives rasping together. Again and again he came at me swiftly, but I pricked him two or three times, which caused him to be more cautious. He made a feint to strike below my belt, but I saw what he was trying to do and prevented him from closing, but he brought his knife around in such a way as to give me a savage cut on my left arm. My buckskin jacket saved me from being severely wounded, but I felt the warm blood trickle down my sleeve. Again he rushed at me, but I had no relish for having my throat cut, and kept him off, pricking him on the shoulder. It was a trifling injury, but it maddened him and he came at me again, and with such fury that I was forced back a step or two. “ Give him the knife,” I heard one of the men say, but they kept their dis- tance and did not interfere. . I was weil aware, though, that victory for me would but save me for the knives of the other fellows; and even as I stood face to face with the Mexican, saw the hatred in his eyes, his set features and heavy breathing, and knew that he meant to kill me, I was formulating a plan of escape. Assuming to weaken, I let him press me hard. I lost ground. The fellows back of me gave way that I might be pushed to the wall. I had been aware that they felt that I was gaining an advantage, and now the reac- tion came to those looking on and they thought they saw me defeated, as also did my opponent. To deceive them I made my passes wildly—I was not holding my own, so it looked, but the truth was, I was but awaiting my opportunity. It came when the Mexican made a vicious thrust at my throat. I stepped back quickly, avoiding the blow, and before he could recover himself I struck the knife out of his hand and followed this quickly with a high chest thrust. He staggered, took a ste» backward, and fell heavily on the floor. Before those in the room could recover from their surprise at the sudden ending of the affair, I drew my revolvers. They had proven cumbersome enough during the fight, but now I had the opportunity to make good use of them. “Throw up your hands!” I cried. The order was obeyed. Probably more from ‘the suddenness with which it had been given than from fear. They were all before me, huddled together, a cowed looking set of fellows, and between us, stretched upon the floor, was the man [ had run the knife into, apparently dead, the knife undrawn. “ Now,” I said, still covering them with my leveled revolvers, “ if you will oblige me by not making it necessary that I shoot the whole rascally lot of you, I will get out of here and leave you to take care of your man.” They did not offer any resistance, nor did they make any reply. I stood aside a little from the door toward which I had backed, and told the boy, who '” GOH GoOOO ‘SS COLNT