Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-09

CHAPTER I.
THE UNKNOWN AND HIS COMPANIONS.
At the time Of which we write the German En-
pre- was in anything but a tranquil state Rudolf
OF HapSbuTg had been elected Emperor solely be-
cause he was a brave, INSCRIPTIONS man. He had
accepted the imperial post with the pledge that
he would he the blind. unSwerving tool OF the
church. The HanSe Towns, or cities were
lcagued together for mutual interest and protec-
ton, forming so many almost independent gov
efnments- The princes were i'm many instances
Ieduced IN power holding the peasants in vassal-
age while over all, and carrying terror even to
the stout cities, were those wild, robber knights,
whose castles, like the eyries of the eagles were
Peiched away upon mountains and rocks, from
whence the reckless lords looked down in dis
dlin upon all who dwelt beneath In the East
the crUsades were drawing to a close Baldwin
IL mad been driven from the throne of ByZan-
tilmi Jerusalem was in the hands of the sons of
lNialni Antioch had been taken with the slaugh-
ter of seventeen thousand Christians while a
hundred thousand more were dragged away into
slavery; Armenia had been Overrun aud conque
ed large portion OF the army of Louis Of r rance
had either died Of disease, or by the hand of the
Saracen, and the remainder had returned to their
western homes Yet there Were many Christians
IN the Holy Land, and Gregory tried hard to send
out more, but he did not succeed Even his plant
tool, the Emperor Rudolf Won HapSburg, refused
90 obey him in this.
IL was an afternoon in the spring of 127l Since
noon the heavens had been mantled with clouds
and now. when the sun had soins four hours more
To run, the wind had sprung up, and the signs
wee that rain was near at hand.
Upon the dubious road from Brakenhiem to
Durmen, just in the north Of the eastern confines
of the Black Forest, rode four armed men. He
VINO rode in advance-fOT the path narrow
here among the huge rocks that two could not
ride abIea>t-was a noble looking knight, tall
and powerfully built, clothed in complete armor,
with his heavy battle slung in its beckett by
his side; his lance at rest, and his helm suspen-
ded from loop at the saddle bow. The afmor
was black as night--all save the gorget, which
was OF Furnished gold, set with precious stones.
Even the casCue was Gf the sable hue. though the
three brilliant ostrich feathers which hoated from
the top relieved the sombre effect. Upon his
head be Woe a light cap Of purple velvet, with
no other ornament than a rich brooch of gold and
emeTalds which secured the crimson ostrich
plume in its place. His face was one of rare and
startling beauty-one of those faces which ava
ken envy in the bosom of beaux, and quick love
ia the souls Of the gentler sex. His brow was
high and full, and about IL and the fair neck
hOated glossy masses Of light, sunny hair. His
ewes were Of deep blue his nose straight and
finely carved his lips fairly propOrtioned and
wreathed with half waking smile. and his
cheeks full, and flushed with the ruddy glow
of h-alth and vigor His surcoat, which hung
across the saddle, bore upon the breast the red
cross Of the Crusaders. His shield bore strange
device IL was child killing an eagle, with this
inscription: "QUOD DEUs BENE vETAT," which
may be rendered, "My God bring IL 10 a good re-
szIf'i The child was upon its knees with one
hand clasPed about the eagles throat, while the
other held raised dagger. The knight could
not have been over thirty years of age though he
had surely seen much of life.
And now what is this bold knights name, In
Palestine he was known - The KNIGHT OF
The EAGLE" and. finally, to shorten the name
he wdS called - The BLACK EAGLE Since he
had left the Holy Land he had received one more
COSnomen :-'' The UNKNOwN CRUSADER - And
Vet. with all these, he still remains without
Christian name. Even when all Palestine and
half Of Europe were filed with the song and story
OF his wOndrOuS prOweSs, they could not tell his
name, whence he came, nor whence he belonged
Upon that point he had reserved a stern silence;
and the most that the Emperor Baldwin could
gain from him when he bestowed the honor Cf
knighthOOd was a simple declaration to this ef-
feet -
Upon my name there rests no stain-in nv
sOIl thee Is no wong. can look up TO our
God and imPlore His protection, feeling that
am worthy of il; and in the face of any honest
knight in ChristendOIn | can look without
blush. Call me SIR Knight of the Eagle, and the
name shall not be dishOnOred."
Baldwin had asked no more With the men,
o.y OF the youths feats of noble daring flesh
upon him he gave him the magic stroke Of the
imperial swO-d, and with his own hands did he
buckle on the golden spur.
Behind the Unknown rode a second knight
oi nearly the same age with the former. He was
not quite 50 tall, but full as brOad-shouldefed,
and possessed gOOdly share of manly beauty.
In fact he was noble. Misunderstanding knight,
and such an one as no mistress would have gaZed
upon but with gratitude and pride. His armor
was OF the same pattern as his companion s, but
not Of the same color. The casque was of bur
nished steel the gOrget of the same. and the rest
of the armOr-the cuirass the tasses, the brassetS
cf good, weIl-tried steel in substance He also
wo- 4 velvet cap on his head. and carried across
his saddle the SurcOat of the Crusader. His name
ENGLEBERT Won MARBURG, and he was
known throughout the Holy Land one Of the
braveSt knights that ever cOuched lance against
the infdel Saracen. His weapons were the same
a those carried by the Unknown, save that they
We not quite as heavy.
Behind Sir Engelbert rode the two esquires.
Tn-y were also well armed and wore the bras
SITS and cuiskes in addition to the eurass Robert
.k...fk.. F,rf
and heavily framed with great bones and sim
cvv>- almost like OK red face and red hair
and possessed ofmuch ready wit. He had served
under Baldwin a. an esquire. and during said
service had performed many valorous deeds. One
day, AT the taking Of fortified town, he became
surrounded by half a dozen stout Noslems, and
had ven himself up as lost. and said his pray
efs, when the knight of the Eagle burst in upon
him. slew his enemies. and bore him away in
safety. Baldwin saw the deed, and from that
hour he gave Robert Won Swingenheffen to the
Black Eagle, to serve him as best he could. And
b. had been faithful. He loved his valiant master
snd was ready at any moment to lay down his life
20 the good Of him who had once saved it,
The fourth person in the party was Bernard
>~hof,-hauSen. He was some five years younger
than Robert. and very unlike him in frame, being
very iall-all Of six feet and half and rather
slim for such height. Yet he was strong, and
oyer-Tunning with fun and good nature. That he
was a faithful and b-ave esquire Sir Engelbert
we'll knew. for he mad served the noble knight
s-yr-al years.
AAC party LituS tIdsclcu "dS
on Of the widest in the country The giant trees
stood thickly about where the surface was not of
rOck- and upon all hands the rugged mountains
arose like sentinels Of the empire.
~ times the path was through dense wood
th-h over rugged ciih-.hen along deep
Nihe-lnd anon upon the narrow pass that giTded
''iIi- Perpendicular wall Of rock. At length they
i"drhed a wide wood, through which the road
Nds level end b:odd- and here Sir Engelbert rode
up "a hI> companions side. aud said:
DO YOU not remember, once in Constantinople,
.cu Tod nie when reached Germany, might
Afpw yOCr name, and who you were -
es-" returned the Black Knight, :! do
ririnber it; but the time is not yet come. must
L-st see how the wind blows. In | mistake not,
tus Rudolf Won Hapsburg, whom the Pope has
'4'iAs EuperOf. Is a-l-EneTe Puppet. y
TANK 80, too added Marburg. "And
H"i stiil mean to remain The BakBoVn ?''
OF the present I must -
l. l. curious Here We have been companions
, s'hs Tor siS long yelrs-slept beneath the same
'',' ,I,ateh cI-h fson the same bucker when we had
90, I,iSHght together, side by side, through
Ss.1 each nfh fhari in