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Full Title
The Girl Cowboy Captain; or, The Skinners of the Carolina Swamps / by Jos. E. Badger, Jr.
Author
Badger, Jos. E. (Joseph Edward), 1848-1909.
Date Added
9 January 2014
Format
Journal
Language
English
Publish Date
1889-05-18
Publisher
New York : Beadle and Adams
Series
Beadle's Boys Library of Sport, Story, and Adventure > v. XXI, no. 266
Source
Dime Novel and Popular Literature
Alternate Title
Beadle's Boys Library of Sport, Story, and Adventure, v. XXI, no. 266, May 18, 1889. Skinners of the Carolina Swamps.
Topic
Dime novels > Specimens.
About
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Disclaimers
Disclaimer of Liability Disclaimer of Endorsement
OCR
eM CRA
and light for that of the somewhat obese Tory.
And then the scarlet coat, laced and glittering
with golden tags, the plumed hat carried in one
hand, the long sword, and its hilt of flashing
gold and jewels: this was not Mathew Brand.
‘You do yourself injustice, fair Mistress
Agatha,” the soldier said, in a low, musical
tone, evidently in answer to some remark made
by the lady. ‘‘ Your presence would grace a
far nobler board than mine, and [I would not
change places with our gracious majesty, King
George, himself,”
“ But you mistake—”
“Pardon, Jady, I make no mistake. Your
worthy father has already given consent, and
surely vou will not prove obdurate.”
The gallant soldier gracefully sunk upon one
knee and possessed himself of the lady’s hand,
raising it to his mustached lips. Agatha uttered
a little ery, and shrunk back, as pale with fury
and half mad with jealousy, Kirke Arnold
sprung from his covert, his heavy saber flashing
in the clear moonlight.
‘‘Ha! an intruder!” angrily muttered the
Englishman, as he heard the footfall, and quick-
ly rising he wheeled and confronted the young
ranger. ‘And who the devil are you, sirrah?”
“A man—if you are one, as you pretend, draw
the sword that hangs at your side,” hoarsely
cried Arnold, nearly choking.
“* Peace—for the love of God, gentlemen, stay
your hands!” gasped Agatha, springing between
the rivals.
‘Stand aside, Miss Brand,” coldly uttered
Kirke, his eyes glowing with a steely light.
‘Tis not for you to interfere in this matter,
This fellow and I have a loug account to settle,
and there’s no time like the present.”
‘* Arnold—for my sake—”
‘Lady, do not demean yourself by pleading
with this unmanly cur—sin7e he seeks chastise-
ment, let him have his will. He richly deserves
it for his boorishness,” interrupted Major Tracy,
drawing his sword, ;
‘No, no—you must not—”
“If your feelings are so tender, Miss Brand,
perhaps 'twould be as well for you to retire.
Then you will avoid being a witness of your
gallant cavalier’s punishment,” sneered” the
young rauger.
‘“* Arnold, you wrong me!”
“Did I not see—have I not ears? Blind, un-
reasoning fool that I was to trust for a moment
in woman’s honor!”
“‘Come—this.is outrageous, sir. You are in-
sulting! Miss Brand, I must beg you to step
aside, until I teach this scurvy villain a lesson—
though the slave-whip would be a fitter tool
than the sword of a gentleman.”
“Bah! an Arnold is fit food even for the
sword of a Tracy,” sneered Kirke.
.“ You know me--who are you?” in surprise,
“Captain Kirke Arnold, of the Continental
Rangers, at your service, Major Tracy.”
“Indeed! The same that led me such a chase
through these swamps, then? If you fight. as
well as you ruu, I have no child’s play before
me,” sneered Tracy,
‘* And your tongue wags too free for that of a
true swordsman, But enough—to show you
what I mean—there is my card!”
12 The Girl Cowboy Captain.
As he spoke, Arnold sprung lightly forward,
and with open palm struck the Englishman a
sharp blow upon the cheek. Then, as with the
same motion, he leaped back and stood on
guard,
“Your death-warrant, you,should have said,
sir,” quietly uttered Major Tracy, his eyes glis-
tening, his face pale as death, ‘*I meant but to
punish you with a wound—now you shall havo
a grave.” .
The next instant their blades crossed with a
clash th :t cast a shower of sparks to the grecn-
sward. Witha faint cry, Agatha shrunk back,
sinking to the ground, half-fainting.
It was a struggle that words are powerless to
describe, so rapid were their motions and
changes, A wall of: flashing steel seemed to
separate them,
shower. The blades clashed together—now
gritting, now grinding, twining and twisting
like steely serpents in eccentric play.
Pale and speechless Agatha watched them,
‘with eyes filled with horror. But her eyes rested
only upon one of the combatants—upon Kirke
Arnold, He bad doubted her love—had spokeu
insultingly, and yet she loved him, praying that
he might escape scatbless.
Both seemed perfect masters of their wea-
pons; both were muscular and active, in fit con-
dition to do battle for life. Both were cool and
collected, though, for the time, the presence of
Agatha Brand was forgotten. Arnold believed
that a favored rival stood before him; Majur
Tracy fought to wipe out the insult that still
tinged his cheek—the di grace of a blow.
Blood dimmed the luster of each sword-point,
though no wounds of importance had been given;
mere scratches, that seemed tospur the rivals on
to fresh exertions, if indeed they were felt at all,
And they fought on in stern silence, foot to foot,
their muscles strained to the utmost, and seem- ~
ingly as tireless as the steel blades that flashed
and glittered in the moonlight,
So absorbed were the combatants that they .
heard nothing of the footsteps that seemed draw-
ing near. And as Agatha sprung to her feet
with a lowcry, balf a dozen men dashed into
the glade, with drawn weapons,
They wore the livery of the king. The fore-
most paused, with an exclamation of surprise,
as he beheld his officer.
Startled, the rivals paused and fell back a
pace, though still upon guard. The ranger’s
eyes glared with fury, but more because his
enemy bade fair to escape him than from per-
sonal fear. :
‘‘ Major, we heard the clashing of steel, and
came to investigate the matter. What are your
orders?” quietly uttered the young subaltern,
saluting.
“This is a spy—arrest him!” hoarsely mut-
tered Major Tracy, his face flushing hotly,
‘““Coward—cur! and yet you call yourself a
man of honor! But you don’t escape. me so
easily!” gritted the ranger, springing forward
in mad fury. . /
His impetuous onset well-nigh proved fatal to
the doughty major, whose guard was beaten
down and then his sword fell from his benumbed
fingers. But the soldiers now interfered aud
closed round Arnold, whose sword was fully em-
Sparks fell in a _ constant -
J