Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1839-08-27

lesvi,tsi park gYssea hv supslyh and comciy cafie
and studded with occasional cimpe Us sfaifi, iof-
esd trees and entering upoa ihc p,1r' a'a u'oi'
broken. and perhaps GA that account more iAaiuf-
esqoc and pleasing sccncu of ftc upland chase,
Which stretched away. sylvan solitude of mikes,
toward tn nufih, hastcpef g. i"n uff iriiD ~
The sysys Nhic- had hccn appointed iof ihcr evening
meal 1l,n hermitage. for tHs iaNnaic hauui
was termed was nj = decorated hui according 10
the iks,r 81 modern times, bui 10 eooi truth cave
rrn dwelling. sc0ped from The li0c stone rock which
ssddsnly swelling up from the tanner hills around TO-
pscsenied al that poni bare and ragged prenpicc
a hundred feet IA heighi, round which arspid stream
whiflcd iurlUleniy. ssnng itself many were the
reefs and shattered blocks o. STONE which barred BE-
course into sheet Of snowy ioam. The cave
which, although long uutcuanted had once been the
abode Of = true Saxon anCh0rle, consisted Of two
ohamhcrs-tae hrst. a ruofny. square apartment
with q groined roof, and wifc chimney. wrought,
a. II seemed. AT the expense OF almost endless toll
out Of tho solid rock by patien, chiselhng the front
towards the iiyef having low and srchcd doorway,
and q long, uansoncd window, now for the most
part ofcf-run with ivy. which overlooked e WIDE
reach OF the ioominf torrent, and the rich hanging
woods which clothed the farther verge. The Sc
cend as rs Tor a.s silRf iihsd 6a dmy lighted
through one tall, narrow loop hole containing mere
w niche or two formed 10 receive the crucifix and
holy water, and recess wherein the lonely dwell.
er had ivr years siTcwcd hiss humble couch Ia tho
exterior chamber, when they arrived there they
found all preparations made for their refreshmuui
"a snowy cloth spread upon tho rude stone Table,
flask or two Of the lightGascon wines, that day
deemed the choicest produce of the Crapc-pasiry
and fruit, and other slight coniccons arranged on
SILVER plates, with flowers and green leaves IA pro-
fusion-sweoi garniiure for such meal. 4 single
page was waiting when they entered and he too.
was dismissed on their arrival. And they sat raZ-
ing upon the lovely landscape, and rifng with the
dciicacies set before them, rather excuse IN
loi,cnng there, Than thai they cared 10 crafty ihor
appetite conyersing, now gaiy, with that mix
lure of soft melancholy, which runs ever ~ "a deep
and sweet vein through minds OF potcal and hiph-
" wrought feinPeraInent-uniil the moon was riding
prosd and bright IN the transparent heaven, and the
long boc,ing of the answering owls was mingled
with the bfawlng riycr. Suddenly, there was hoard
ciang OF steel without, and heavy footsteps clank-
ing along the narrow pathway, which gave the only
access TO the cavern and the next moment a loud
shout from the page rng through the stiffness of the
night--"Treason, Ho Iierward, 10 arms - Peace.
~ " fool, cried a harsh voice in Norman French
and with the words the dull sound of a heavy blow
piercing shrek--and one could have counted
Ten, plunge IN the swift current followed.
Upon the instant, Hereward sprung 10 his weap-
ons-gained the doorway, and, al glance, perceived
thai HIS hour come Eighteen or twenty DOW
ssiui and savage looking men a, arms, completely
eheathcd IN Steel with mace and hatie~axe and long
two-handcd swords were mrning up the crapgy
pass-cscapc there was none, but through their
~.
only To prolong the vain deaih-siruggle Yet Here
ward was not the man 10 perish unaycpgcd 0r tame
Iy-he raised his buge to his lips and wound II long
enA tood, I'LL the woods echoed far and wide to is
korn dis -ocu.cs, bu, vtuI triu uuu-.
shcnlAh was very rugged, and so narrow that but
eo0lv~id scale II at iime aud had he been array
oesriyhclm and hauberk, with his good gsan in hi,
s21nd, Hereward would have deemed it but a light
c~sk 70 defend that passage against a Of armed
ooDalants--but, in his garb of peace with but one
nd .tsnFf ri
- scarce expected 10 pierce the fceblcsi afmor,
That could he hope 10 do against the siee-cad war
Iicvs. Once he left the cavern he strained his
ASscc 70 his heart pressed one long kiss upon her
low, then rushed into the fray,
y Graspng his boar-spear by the middle as though
bout TO hur it on the advancing enemy and folding
large mantle IN compact folds upon his arm, he /
tang upon the foremost; but, swifier far than he [
woltdog, Balder, dashed at the throat of the file
ooer-cmbarrassed by this unexpected foe, the I
- - arms lowered his guard, and at that self
~ instant the keen head OF the boar spear plung-
11peeslby into his wiser shattered the bars drove
- skull, and hurled him back dead man on his I
follower. Staggering beneath the weight Of
I'M leader the second man at arms missed his 4
nnid, and ere he could recover his equilibrium /
ock stroke from the hand OF Heroward pitched .
oncer down, fall OF eighty feet, into the tor
bed Another and another fell under the /
atsbs OF the desperate Saxon they hcstaicd /
rev back--but ii was only for Instant |
Sfnfbru upon MN. ana ilclf long cutting I
- were stained with his blood vet from his I
- ground he still dealt death among them tin .
lrAAned by hard service, the tough shaft OF the .
spear burst into hundred sI.liniers at the blow .
y drove through the corsiei deep into the .
- hun who, coming treacherousy 10 avenr, .
I'D Of his slam cousin met the fate which he /
~ for another. But the same blow which
- tocman. was no, less fatal 20 the Saxon
ongh he drew his short sword on The instant
20 rowefiess weapon al close quarters
a1ed upon him IN body; was dark con
desperate graphic lac lost his footing.
10 up 10 his knee more, and brought
IMAM down. And, with The wells Of Inc
hounts, wells Of rage bleni with agony.
~ curses Of the murdeFcrs, and the con
1facf Steel more appalling strife can
Hj1sfeiyed And DOW. 10 fili the measure
~ Alice came rushing down. believ-
~ shMlrltc eas ended and hoping only 90
sn ~ pf hev edored. loss iierewsri Scarce
&zss c 1Ise etene, ere she was seized
IJ4n, sis<psrsieiy. mortally
<iss. ~ gorge through MS
- I1I ~ between his shout
~ - ~ han. ere he could make /