The Red Cloud chief., 1877-06-28
RRTRIBUTION.


To that bIest place Of al the earth most fair.
At last with full relief from toll and carr.
RETRIBUTION.
A Romantic Tradition Of Hungary.
Among the lofty Carpathians, where
they mirror their stern and solemn
beauty in the clear waters Of the Waag,
linked together in a long chain, like the
giant guardians Of the fair valley of
their feet, may be seen a detached and
sterile rock. almost inaccessible, totally
devoid Of Vegetation, and leveled by the
rapid river. which hurries from beneath
its heavy shadows to dance again in
brightness in the sunlight beyond.
The Count StibOr was az brave as he
wa high-b I'm; and riches had poured
in upon him until he had become one
Of the wealthiest mobiles in the empire.
Itchancedt that one day he hunted with a
great retinue among the mountain fast
nesses; and glorious was the report of
the gallant hunt. The lightfOOted
chamois, and antlered deer, the fierce
wolf and the grizzly bear, yer alike
laid low, when, as the sun was about to
set, he formed his temporary encamp-
ment on the pleasant bank of the Waag,
just where, on the opposite side of the
channel, the lone and precipitOus rock
we have described turned aside the
glancing waters.
The heart of StibOr was merry, for
the sport had gone well throughout
the day; and when his rude tent was
raised, the savOry steam Of the veni-
SON, and the sparkles of the wine-cup,
frightened his humOr, and he listened
with a smile upon his lips to the light
sallies of the joyous company, as they
talked over his fortunes in the chase.
Here me- said the magnificent noble,
during a transient pause in the CONVEX
satiOn. 4 seem to be the only hunter
of the day to whom the sport has been
without a blemish. 1t is true that all
your misfOrtunes are light enough, but
1 will cast no shadow upon my joy ;and,
therefore, to compensate to you for
these alleged mishaps, each of you is
free to form a wish; and if it be within
my power to grant it, l pledge my
knightly word that it shall be fulfilled.
A murmur of admiratiOn ran through
the a~stOnished circle, and the work of
ambition Dol began. Gold was the
first thing asked fOr-fOr avarice is
ever the most greedy of all passions;
and then revenge upon my enemy-fOr
human nature will often sacrifice per-
sonal gain to vengeance; and then
Observation-Disclosures over their fell
low men; the darling occupation and
privilege of poor, weak, self misjudging
mOrtals. In short, there was no boon
within the reach of reason which had
not been asked and promised, when the
eye of Stibor fell upon his jester, who
was standing apart playing with the
tassels of his vest, apparently uninter.
ested in the subject which had made
all around him eager and excited.
And thou knave,' said the noble,
hast thou nothing to ask? Thou must
bestir thyself. or thy master will have
little to give
Fear not, fear not replied the fool;
the claimants have been courteous, for
they have not touched upon that por-
ton of thy possessions which I covet.
They have demanded gold, blood, do
minion: the power to enjoy themselves,
and to render others wretched; they
are welcome to all they want. 1 ask only
for stones
A loud laugh rang through the cir
Gle.
stones, Betzkov echoed the aston ish.
ed StibOr. Thou shalt have them to
thy hearts content, where and in what
shape thou wilt
4 take thee at thy word, Count Stibor.
I will have them yonder on the crest of
the bold rock that stands out like a
braggart daring the foot of man; and
in the shape of a good castle. in which
I may hold my own, should need be-
was the unlocked for reply.
Thou has lost thy chance, Betzko,'
crieda voice, amid the universal merri-
ment that ensued. Not even Stibor,'can
accomplish thy desire
Who dares to say that Stibor cannot
grant it, if such be his wills ? demand
ed the chieftain. in a voice of thunder,
as he rose proudly from the earth where
he had been seated on a couch of skins
The castle of Betzko shall bs built
And it was built; and within a year q
festival was held there, and the noble
became enamored of his own creation,
for it was beautiful in its strength land
the fair danes admired its cOurtly halls
as much as the warriors priced its solid
walls and its commanding towers. And
thus Count Stibor bought off the rock
fortress from his jester with gold, and
made it the chief place of his abode,and
he Toasted there with his guests, and
made merry with music and dances, un.
til it seemed as though life was to be
for him one long festival. Men often
walk over the spot which afterward
opens to bury them
Little by little the habit of self-indul-
gence grew upon the luxurious noble;