The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-01-02

self, morning and evening, filled his rack,
spread his bed and groomed him, and the ami
NAL, accustomed to the man, recognized him
from far, sauting him by neighing, turning his
head to look after him, and sadly lowering his
ears when Ulryck was out of sight If the
sergeant was absent and strange hand brought
hay or oats to him, the animal seemed afflicted
and would not eat. None but his master ever
mounted him. 81
Min at times took mex xplcable whims; for
| instance, he would often choose a longer and
more difficult road in preference to the shorter
and easier one. Ulryck, who never had been
able to conquer the obstinacy of his little horse
on this point, usually allowed him to have his
own way. "Min knows what he is about, "
the sergeant would say; ''if he wants to carry
me on the right hand, which is longer, and in
creases his trouble, it is because he scents dam
ger on the left hand road"
| But when duty required, Ulryck had a
means Of vanquishing the obstnacy of Min.
| He would dismount and proceed on foot, leav-
| ing Min to follow or to go back as she chose,
and the poor animal never failed to follow his
master like dog. If any obstacle separated
| them, as soon as he could overcome it, Min
would find Ulryck and reioin him, in no mat
| ter how great crowd; and if Ulryck ever
started on an excursion alone, and any one
during his absence opened the stable door, Min
would follow on his track TO the distance of
half a league from Bruges, for the expeditions
| Of the sergeant never extended further than
that. Every one in the city knew the little
horse, and could approach him, but he would
allow no one either TO catch or mount him.
We mention all these details because they
were remarkable; let us also add what Ulryck
had often observed, viz. that on every occa-
sion that Min had refused to go, Ulryck had
encountered dangers. Once during fight
| with rebellious baron, his horse refusing to
march, Ulryck had gone on foot and was Sc
verely wounded. Many other examples were
cited.
On the occasion of which we write. Min
showed himself more restive than usual He
pranced in a very unruly manner through the
streets of Bruges, and when they reached the
outskirts of the city the little animal stopped,
refusing so decidedly to take the road to Jean
d'OStcamp's castle that Ulryck became angry.
| He had no spurs they were then worn as n
distinctive badge by knights only. But if he
had had one it would not have avaled with
Min. He spoke to him in threatening tone,
but the horse only lowered his ears. Ulryck
then struck him with his ebony staff, but he
Immediately regretted it. Min only lowered
his head still more and remained immovable,
Min" ssid he at last, speaking to the ami
NAL as if it were endowed with intelligence.
I'VE go by the order of the Count of Flanders,
and we carry the black staff of the silver lion !;
| they will respect us"
Minis only response was to turn towards the
| city they had just quilted
This is very cowardly," said the sergeant !;
''you show very little courage, Min; we are
under the protection of Bandcuin a ia Hache, "
apd eo eovipp bo d;ep,ouptoJ
g Go back, my poor Min, if you are afraid, "
sa id he, ''as for me, must do my duty"
| And he started on foot. Min reluctan ty
| followed, with his head lowered to the ground.
| On arriving at the gate of the castle, Of which
the portcullis was down, Ulryck blew small
horn which hung on post
"Who is there ?" said soldier, appearing
An officer of Monseigneur Baudouin a la
Hache, the redoubtabe Count of Flanders"
The portcullis was instantly raised, and
| Ulrych entered the castle. Passing through
| the court, which was narrow, and surrounded
by high walls, he almost fanced himself in a
prison. The soldier or servant who had
drawn up the portculls conducted him into a
large hall in which was Jean d'Ostcamp.
This hall was forty feet long and twenty five
feet wide, and its only ceiling was the roof,
| composed of great tiles, laid on heavy timbers.
a massive table occupied the centre, and on
each side of it were deal benches. The bare
brick walls were garnished with arms, nets and
wolf skins. On rude platform at one end of
the hall was a complete suit of iron armor for
a knight, which was supported by q wooden
mannikin. AT the other end of the hall, be-
fore q large chimney, in which burned the
trunk of tree, was Lord Jean dOstcamp,
seated on stool, which was painted black,
and surrounded by three servants He wore a
| cap made of the skin of hare, small clothes
of coarse green cloth, and wooden shoes, and
| for q coat he wore a sort of tunic or blouse,
confined by black belt, from which depended
on the right, a great knife, ,.and on the left a
| short but heavy axe.
A pot of beer and some slices of buttered
bread were placed before him on a block,
which served as portable table. The floor
not being paved was strewed with fresh straw.
Under the table were two large dogs, which
growed at the approach of Ulryck, but became
quiet at a word from their master
This description may give the reader some
idea Of a seignoral manor at the beginning Of
the twelfth century. The luxury introduced
by the crusades was Just commencing to be
adopted by few privileged houses.
When the sergeant appeared, Jean d'Ost
camp, without saying a word, offered him a
pot of beer and a slice of bread, for it wa:
the usual custom.
81 cannot accept anything, my Lonl, said
Ulryck, " until my message is delivered"
80 You come from Count Baudouin," sad
Jean d'Ostcamp, "what do you want ?"
81 am here" replied the sergeant, "as q
public officer of justice of my lord, to demand
payment of your debt to certain merchant o
| Bruges. None of the officers Of the city daring
10 come, it is to me that Monsegneur the very
redoubtable Count of Flanders has referred
the widow of the said merchant"
"These things do not concern the count,
said the baron, roughly.
All justice concerns him, my lord, re-
piled the sergeant, "snd by the staff of tht
| lion, in the name of God and of justice, sum
man you to Immediately pay into my hands
the sum due, or to follow me before the city
Judge, to be condemned for the said sum, anc
to remain in prison until fully paid, for such il
the law"
Ulryck had no time to say more, for the
face of the baron became purple with rage a.
the first words of the summons. He arose
stammering with anger;
Miserable slave put ne into prison !"
He sprang at the sergeant, and pushing hin
violently out of the hall, shut the door and sal
down on his stool, nearly beside himself with
rage.
Ulryck felt that he was performing sterr
duty, and not wishing TO return until he hac
fully discharged it, he placed his ebony stat
in pocket made for the purpose in the hous
ing of Min, who was waiting for him. H,
then took out an inkstand, pen and shee
of parchment, and proceeded to write out {