Page:The Partisan, v1.djvu/102

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was mnrrsm. 99 •* Mercy! mercy !" cried the corporal, as he saw that it was all over. A howl like that of the wolf was the · only response, and the weapon bit through the bone as ' the arm was unavailingly thrown up to resist it. The stricken member hung only by the skin and a part of the coat·sleeve. The steel was already in the air-- “ Mercy, Frampton! have mercy--" · The speech was silenced, as, crushing through bone and brain, the thick sword dug its way down into the very eyes of the pleader. The aveuger knelt upon the senseless body, as it lay at hisfeet, and pouredforth above it a strain of impious thanksgiving to Heaven for so much granted and gained of the desired ven- geance. His wild, wolfish laugh, at intervals while he prayed, taught the rest of the party where to look for him. — , CHAPTER IX. “g isallhdirg-the wakstill stretches out ‘ rlur m¤¤m° me mm m`in¥¢l.°°°h`°*l.»¤mpl;i.°£~ I1 was an easy . victory, and won without Wiping his bloody sword upon the mane of his steed, Major Singleton rode up to his captives, who, by this time, were all properly secured. Four persons had fallen in the conflict, and among these was their leader, Travis. He was shot dead upon the spot. Clough was severely wounded in the breast, though perhaps , not mortally, and lay gasping, but without a groan, upon the ground where he had fallen, and around which the surviving prisoners were grouped. Three others had fallen, either killed outright or mortally wounded: two of these by the sabre, not including the corporal, who fell by the hand of Frampton, and who was at once rolled into the swamp. The prisoners, tive in