The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-09

~ ssih INC valley beyond. Thoh
on to the Prince and tell him how We fare"
But my fair lord. how can We hone TO reach
the horses'" asked Norpury.
10 cannot 20 round to them. for they would
Do upon 10 ore W could come to them. Think
70 that 70 have heart enough to Chamber down
this cliff"
Had We but . rops."
There Is ono here. It is but one hundred
feet LONG, and for the rest 70 must trust to God
and to your fingers. Can you try IL. Alleynsr
with all my heart. my dear lord. but how
can leave you In such a strait"
Nay, 1t Is to serve mo that 70 70. And you
Norburyr"
Tho silent squire said nothing. but he took
MP the rope. and. having examined It, he tied
ono cad firmly round projecting rock. Thsn
no cast oil his breastpiats, thtRhpieces. and
gresvas. while Allsyns followed his example,
Tell Chandos. or Oaiverley. or Knollss
should the Prince have gone forward" Dried
Sir Nigel. Now may God speed 70. for 70 are
bravo and worthy mon"
1t was. indeed. a task which might make the
heart OF tho brnvost sink within him. The
thin cord dangling down the face OF the brown
eiff seemed from above to roach little more
than half way down 1t. beyond stretched the
rusEed rock wet and shining. with a green
tuft here aud there thrusing out from It. but
little sign OF ridge or foo.hold. Far below the
Jagged points OF the bouldsrs brlstled mp. dark
and menacing. Norbury tu2ged thrice
with all his strength upon the cord,
and thon lowered himself over tho edge,
while hundred anxious faces peered over
at him As he slowly clambered downward to
the end OF the rope. Twice he stretched out
his foot, and twice hs failed to reach the point
at which he aimed. but even as he swung him
self for third cf,ort q stone from q sling
kha eaoi..
struck him full upon the side Of his head His
grasp relaxed. hi, feet slipped. and In an In
slant ho was crushed and mangsd corpse
upon the sharp ridges beneath him.
1T have no better fortune" said Alleyns.
leading Biz Nigel aside. e pray you. my dear
lord that you Will give my humble service to
the Lady Maude. and say to her that was
ever her true servant and unworthy cavalier"
The old knight said no word. but he put .
hand on either shoulder aud kissed his squire.
with the tears shining in his eyes. Alleyne
sprang to the rope. and. sliding swiftly
down. soon found himself at its extremity.
From above 1t seemed as as though ne
and Cliff were well nigh touching. but
now. when swinging a hundred feet
down. tho squire found that he could
scarce reach the face Of the rock with his foot
and that 1t was as smooth rs glass. with no
resting place whore a mouse could stand.
Some three feet lower. however. his eye lit
upon n long Jagged crack which slantsd down.
ward. and this he must reach II he would save
not only his own poor life. but that OF the eight
score men above him. Yet 1t were madness to
spring for that narrow slit with nauRht hut the
wet smooth rock to cling to. He swung for
moment 'ul OF thought. and even as he hung
there another OF the hellish stones sang
through his curls. and struck chip from the
! face OF the cliff. Up he clam bered few
| feet. drew up tn q loose end after him, unslung
| his belt. held on with knee and With
elbow while he spliced the long tough
leathsrn belt TO tho end OF the cord: then
lowering himself rs far as he could 20. no
swung backward and forward until his hand
reached tho crack. when he left the rope and
oluns to the face of the cliff. Another stone
struck him on the side. and he heard sound
Ike a breaking stick. with a keen stabblng
pain which shot through his chest Yetit was
NO time now to think OF pain or ache. There
was his lord and his eight score comrades. and
they must be plucksd from the jaws OF death.
On he clambered. with his hands shuflinG
down the long soping crack. sometin o. bear
ing all his weight upon his arms. at others
fading some small sheif or tuft on which
10 rest bis foot. Would he lever pass
over that fifty feet? lie dared not look
down. and could but grops slowly
onward. his face TO tie clin. his fingers
clutchtng. his feet ec-aping and feeling for
support. Every vein aud crack and nothing
OF that face o; rock remained forever stamped
upon his memory. At last, however. his foot
came upon u broad resting place and no ven-
tured 10 east glance downward. Thank God!
he had reached the highest OF those fatal PIN
naclss upon which his comrnde had fallen.
| Quickly now be sD,ane from rock to rock I'M
til his feet were on the ground. and no had his
hmm atretrhct tha horSe'a rain
sling stone struci him on the head. and he
dropped senseless upon tho ground.
An evil blow 1t was for Alleyne. but a worse
one still for hi who struck it. The Spanish
singer. seeing tho youth lie slain. and judging
from his dress that he was no common man.
| rushed forward 10 plumber him. knowing vol
| that tho bowmen above him had expended
! their last shaft. Ho was still three paces
however. from his victims side when
John upon the clifr abovs pucked up
huge boulder. and. poising 1t for
singer beneath him. 1t struck nron his
shordor. and hurled him. crushed and
screaming. to the ground. whilo Alleyne. re-
called to his sonses by these shrill cries in his
very enr. s agcerod OH to his foot and Gazed
wildly about him. His eyes fell upon tho
| horses grazing upon the scanty pasture. and
Ia an instant all had come back TO him: his
! mission, his comrades. tho need Tor haste. lie
was dizzy. sick, faint. but ho must not die. and
he must not tarry. for his life meant many
lives that day. In an instant no was IN his
saddle aud spurr:n: down tho Na'lcy. Loud
rang the swift chargers hoofs over rock and
reef whllo the fire flow from the stroke Of
iron. and the loose stones showsrsd up
behind him. But his head was whirling round.
tho blood was gushing from his brow, his
temrle his mouth. Ever koensr and sharper
was ne deadly PIN which shot like rsd,hos
were glazing; his senses slipping from him. his
grasp upon the reins, relaxing. Then with ono
q single minute. STOPPING down. he looscned
tho stirrup straps. bound his knees tigbtiy 10
| his saddle hnps twisted his hands in tho brdiS
and then. putting the Gallnnt horses head for
The noun, ain path, no dashed the spurs ~ anl
fell forwarl iantIng with his facs buried in
| tho coarse black mGnc.
| I.ttie could no ever remember of that Wild
ride. Half conscious. but ever with Tho one
thought ealing In his mind. no Roaded tho
horse onward. rushing swiftly down steep
raytnss. over huge boulders along tho edge.