The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-11-26
THE CAPTIVE'S FLIGHT,
A TEMPLAR STORY.

wind moved along the sandy solitude,
where no tree offered welcome shade
The sterile aud barren desert spread
around on every side-all desolate, all
burning in the hot rays of the sun. There
were no fountains, no trees, nothing to
be seen but the plain of sand, save where
in the distance long line Of gloomy and
rugged rocks arose.. ti ssosazp
! Through this frig htful desert travelled
la Christian knight. Ali day he hadgone
on, the sun sending down its fercest rays
upon his helmed head and glittering and
polished armor. Faint and weary he
went on, and as he .neared the gloomy
but grateful rocks thrill of JOY passed
through his bosom. asT-
"Ha!'' he exclaimed, as towards even
ing he entered the shadow of lofty pre-
lcipitous height. "Here is a grateful
place to rest. Here I may dismount and
refresh myself and weary steed. But first
let me find some spring where my horse
and may obtain draught of water2,,.- ;,
So saying, he went ON more slowly than
before 1t was we'll that he had reached
this place of rest. His horse trembled
with utter fatigue, and seemed scarce able
to walk. a 79i@ aL
The knight himself felt exhausted ,and
his frame was almost broken down by the
labors Of the day.
At length he found spring which
gushed musieally from one Of therccks
| into pool below. Here he dismounted,
and rider and horse both rushed eagerly
to the water. The knight drank long
and heavily. $50
"Praised be the Holy Virginl" he ex.
claimed, brushing away the drops of wa
ter which clung to his mustaohe. ."Prais-
ed and forever blessed be st. ---''
taHol Christian?p suddenly exclaimed
voice behind him in Arabic, surrender
The knight turned swiftly around,
drawing his sword as he did SO.
Before him was Saracen knight,
dressed in chain armor, mounted on a
light Arabic steed. 5cs
'iSurrender, Sir Christian!i' .,,x r.,
"Who art thou who darest call on NE
to surrender?'' 7t - ~
"I-l am Hamet, the Governor, of arc.
well known in the camp Of Saladin." ;" -
"And |, Count Roland de Courcy, de-
spise thee for an infdel and base heathenpa
cried the Christian5 lifting his sword; $50
come on, thou on horse and on foot. I
will fight thee; God judge the rightp'
"Fooll" cried the Saracen. "Dost thou
think that I am alone as thou art? ,Seep
He blew silver trumpet which hung
| by,hi side. At the sound number Of
followers came riding one after another
from the clefts and defies Of tho sur.
rounding rocks.
"Will thou fight now? Yield, Chris:
tianln q:
De CourceY stood for moment and
looked around. As many as hundred
men we're there before him. How could
! he fight against such fearful odds! al
| BE flung down his sword. rs.
81 am your prisoner; but, Hamet, il
thou burst, / will fight you for my free
i DOM" cas3 -st
The Saracen smiled sarcastically. oI
"No, no, Sir Christian, wish not t
!, kill thee. Soldiers, give him another
horse, for his is weary. Form aroune
and let US go. t Ie
| The followers obeyed. With the cap
tive knight in their midst they departed
/ "Where art thou taking me2'' said d.
ICourcy to Hamet. bagev
I: ssWhere? To Arc. That will hence
forth be thy home. IS
3 Boast not thyself too greatly. | ma.
be freed from thy hand eeF
( The palace of Hamet lay a little wa.
out of town, upon gentle eminence, ia
cling the sea. It was magnificent edi
fee, built in the luxurious style Of th'
lSsracens. Among the palaces around j
was fitting yard, built for the purpose
of enjoying that chiyalrous sport which
f the Moslem loved as well as Christian
De Courcy was made slave. He wa
, allowed the freedom of the house ant
grounds, but it was impossible for him tt
lescape-for wherever he went he wa
watched. Yet his situation was not 81
!, miserable as might be conceived Among
:. 1.-THE maiden's who dwelt in Hamet's pal
ace the most beautiful was his peerles
daughter, Donnah, She it was who, o.
bis arrival, pitied bin, and saved hin
from dungeon. She it was whose darl
eye would sometimes rest upon him wit
an expression which made his youthful
heart throb with unaccustomed violence.
sOh! had but my freedom, and m
! gallant men behind me, how eagerly
: would force my way even into the middl
of Hamet's hold to win the lovely Don
nahI'
A tournament! The proclamation Iwer
f round and the tidings spread far an
! wide that Hamet was going to prepare
: tournament, which for splendorand mas
nifcence could not be surpassed.
\ "My father, > said Donnah, where wi
your knights come from2"
II "Where2 From my own brave troo]
and from Arc, where some of the braves
Of all the faithful dwell. 81
Sand wilt thou have Moslems only7'
.. Eyes. Would [ venture to let Ii
= faithless Christian approach. here2 N
by Allah! a -
aBut there are Christian captives VII
we're once soldiers.
'Well."
"They can WELD the sword. and take
t part in the tournament ~
8 SWELL said"
IF they ere killed, let them die--tht