The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1872-06-14

The signal being given, the princess
set of full speed, while Lightfoot fell
fast asleep. The race was several miles
long and the princess had proceeded
more than half way, W hen Fortunio
seeing her approach the goal without
Lightfoot, cried out:
Comrade, am undone see moth
ing OF Lightioot."
"My lord, answered Comrade, Fine
ear shall tell you in moment how far
he is OFF,"
Fine.ear listened, and informed For.
tunio that Lightfoot was snoring in the
place from which the princess began her
race. Then Comrade directed Marks.
man to shoot an arrow into his ear,
which he did. Lightfoot started up, and
seeing the princess nearly at the goal,
set off with such rapidity, that, passing
the princess, he reached it before her.
The emperor was now almost frantic
with rage. Calling for Fortunio, he said
to him:
sit cannot be denied that you have
accomplished my conditions take,
therefore, away with you as much of the
treasures of King Alfourite as one oil
your attendants can carry on his back"
Being instantly admitted to the store.
rooms which contained them, he COM
manded Stronghold to begin to load
himself. Stronghold, accordingly, laid
hold at first of FIVE hundred statues OF
gold, taller than giants; next of ten
thousand bags of money, and afterward
of as many filled with precious stones ;
he then took the chariots and horses /;
in short, he left not a single article that
had formerly belonged to King Alfourite.
They then FASTENED from the palace,
and proceeded to King Alfourite's do.
minions. No sooner were they on the
road, than the six gifted attendants be.
gan to ask what recompense they we're
to have for their services.
"The recompense belongs to me-" said
Lightfoot "for, if had not outrun the
princess, we might have returned as we
came"
" And, pray" says Fine.ear, "what
would you have done, if l had not heard
you snore ?"
81 think you must both acknowl-
EDGE" says Marksman, "that our sue
cess was owing to my shooting the arrow
exactly into Liphtfoot's ear.
I" cannot help wondering at your
arrogance" says Stronghold spray
Who brought away the treasures? To
whom can you be indebted, but to
ne ?"
Thus they were going on, when For
nnio said
"My friends, you have all performed
wonders but you should leave to the
King the care Of rewarding you. And
hould his majesty iail to reward you,
ret you shall have no reason to COM
,lain, for l will take upon myself to
,ratify your largest expectations.
King Alfourite beheld him with
and embraced him in the
Utmost transport; and his bravery so
increased the attachment the princess
lad conceived for him, that she, that
cry day, desired to speak with him in
,rivate.
Fortunio sent her for answer, that he
ould not have the pleasure of waiting
N her. The princess, enraged, ran to
he king in the middle Of the night, and
declared that Fortunio had sent Strong.
ack to her chamber to carry her away,
hat he might marry her that, previ.
US to his late enterprise, he had him.
elf engaged in a similar attempt. Gin
hort, dear brother" said the artful
reature, nothing but the death of
his presumptuous wretch can satisfy my
or insure my safety"
The kings affection at hearing this
'as greater than can be described, and
he next morning he ordered Fortunio
0 be taken into custody, and to be
RED.
In vain did Fortunio plead hi, limo.
ence ; no one believed it possible for a
reat princess to invent so wicked a
alsehood. So the judges declared him
utility, and condemned him to die.
The king left the court shedding
,any tears but the cruel princess staid
D see the sentence executed. The off.
err, approaching Fortunio, opened his
hirt, that his heart might be bare to
eceive the darts; but no sooner was
MS done, than all the beholders saw
woman.
Every eye was Immediately turned |
pom the princess, to reproach her with
ne baseness of her conduct in bringing |
, false an accusation against an limo
ent creature, and one, besides, who
ad shown such unexampled courage
nd done the state such signal serv-
es while she, unable to bear the shame
lat awaited her, took out of her pocket
sharp knife, and plunged it into her
cart, saying: "Fortunio is revenged
my injustice"
The hero was led in triumph to the
alace, and the king made an offer of
IS hand and crown to Fortunio. Their
arriage was celebrated with the great
It pomp. The old earl and his two
aughters were sent for on the occasion,
Id ever after remained at court. The
l.