The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1840-07-10
"Five, by the saints %
"Ten thousand " echoed the bidder.
"Fifteen thousand !" cried the Knight.
Il Il

"Ten thousand !! " echoed the bidder
"Fifteen thousand " cried the Knight
| "Doube that % added the other.
"Fifly thousand sequins % roared Don Lopez
'Is that all )! enquired the rutfan, ironically
" methinks the worthy Riquet can scarce refuse
another fifty thousand-ha !"
"Defend myself, minion !" cried the Knight,
no longer to able cotrol his wrath; and making pass
at the bidder he endeavored to pierce him through;
but springng back several feet, as to evade the
attack, the ruian rolled over under the feet Of the
crowd, who, attracted by the alteration, had
gathered round in time to prevent blooodshed.
"IIe defes the Sultan ~ cried the bidder, rising
from the ground: "seize him, men, he defes your
Grand Seignior
| The Knight was Instantly surrounded by the
populace; but clearing space with his sword, he
soon made way to the terrified Circassian. "Save
me, valiant Knight % she screamed, "save me
Death before slavery and flung herself towards
the Knights sword. Dropping the point, Don Lo-
pei caught the girl in his arms, and with gigantic
strength and agility, hewed a passage before him
and bounded through the crowd, who were so thun-
der struck at the daring deed, that they offered
but little resistance,
"Seize him seize him or by the gods you
answer to the Sultan for it," reared the emissary
madend with disappointment, "a thousand sequins
reward to him who stops the fugilives %
Instantly the shout echoed through the streets,
and hundred of the heetest runners, winged with
the expectation of reward, darted after the often
der. 1t was moment of intense excitement with
the fugves. The cry had spread far before them
and numbers of citizens, stimulated by the prom
ised reward, had stationed themselves in the streets
to intercept their flight. The first that attempted
to seize him, Don Lopez plunged his sword into;
rr,,,,
the body, another more active pursuer caught him
by the doublet, and held it with the tenacly of a
bulldog. Gigantic as was the young knights
strength, he could not, with all his endeavours,
shake oil the clutches Of his capor; and the shout
or cxultation that rent the welkin, from behind,
told him that the main body of his pursuers was
close at hand.
Ncrved by desperation, he cutched the rnfian
with one hand by the throat, and with his entire
weight bore him to the ground. Placing his knee
on the mans breast, he then srangled him, till the
face was black with struggling and horror, The
crowd had by this time arrived within few feet of
the scene, and the most eager flung themselves for
ward to secure the Knight, on the body of his adj
versary; but wrenching his sword from the first
corse, Don Lopez uttered his war cry, and bound
ed away with the lifeless Crcassian in his arms.
Fatigue, if it had not damped his spirit, had i'm
paired his strength, and the valiant knight was OBJ
served to totlcr beneath his burden, Phrcnzied
with delight, the fierce mob sent up shouts of de-
rison and cheers of exultalion as they rushed on
ward to their victim. The glittering waters
of the Bosphorus were now in sight, and renewed
cheers re-echocd through the streets. Already
they were within few yards ofhc fugi,ivcs, when
encouraged by sudden CLEAN of hope, the Knight
dashed down the banks Of the river, and loosing
In chntn into IA IL,
shrieks of disappointed mob.
Once more the cry of reward echoed along the
quays-"ren thousand sequims to the boatman
who captures the fugitives ~ and at the word, myr-
lads of manned boats pirougcs, set of in pursuit to
intercept their flight ere they reached the European
side of the Bosphorus. The chase now became
one of the most thrilling interest, Many white
'kerchlcf waved from the remnndocs of the man
sons, and many coral lip hrcathed safety to the
Knight Many noble youth chcercd for the val
liant Spanlard, and sighed for the fate oflhe love-
~ Circassi0n, II was trying moment with both
but the heroic girl no longer sensclcss and terrified
had taken an oar, and now assisted in the manage.
ment of the prougc, II was in vain, however thew
cssaycd 10 escape the pnrsueri, who were rapidly |
gaining on them. Fllnging his oar high in the air,
Don Lopez drew his sword, and resolved to sell
his life and that of his companions as dearly as pos
sible, The foremost of the boats was manned by
six athletic oarsmen, and had now shot up within |
few oars length
"kccp Off cried the Knight, "keep off f,r by
the PREF The, ye shall give blood for blood Keep
Dir !"
"Valiant Don lopez" cried they, know ye not
'Our own followers We saw your danger from
you Cupa, and have hastncd to your rescue"
"Faihiul followers rep led the knight Instant
Y recognizing his men, eve have indeed proved