The Washington times., 1895-02-17

Antonios demand, and. for himself, he had
! rather Il thousand times that the bones of St.
! Prlsian hai been burnt.
I Now. when the duke was gone. the people
l brought the Lady Lucia 20 her own house,
4 driving out the steward, whom the duke had
! set there, and this done they came to the
archbishop and would not suffer him to rest
nor TO delay one hour before he set forth TO
! carry the dukes promise 10 Antonio This
I the archbishop was ready 10 do. for all that
I he was weary, but first he sent Lorenzo to
ask the dukes pleasure, and Lorenzo, COM
ing to the duke, prayed him to send zoo pixies
with the archb shop. For" said he your
highness has sworn nothing concerning what
, shall befall Antonio, and so soon as he has
delivered up the bones | viii set upon him
and bring him alive or dead to your high
ness" But the duke would not hearken.
1.-The fellows name is like stale lees of wine
in my MOUTH said he. Ten of my pike
men lie dead IN the square and more of my
citizens. | will lose no more men over it. -
'Yet how great thing if we could take
him.
81 will take him at my own time and in my
own way" said the duke. In Gods name,
leave me now"
Lorenzo, therefore. got from the duke leave
for but ten men TO go with the archbishop
and to 90 himself il he would. And thus
they set out, exhorted by the people, who fol-
lowed them beyond the bounds of the city TO
make all speed. And when they were gone
the people came back and took up the bodies
of the dead, while the pikemen also took up
the bodies of such OF their comrades as were
slain.
Yet had Duke Valentine known what passed
on the hills while the city was in tumult it
may not be doubted, for all his vexation, that
he would have sent the 200 whom Lorenzo
asked; never had he a fairer chance to take
Antonio. For when the count and those who
1 ant ttr-iNh IN ,,la
tonio's head resting on the golden casket,
shepherd came to the rest of the band and
told them what had been done. and how all
the country was in an uproar Then a de-
bate arose amongst the band, for though they
were lawless men, yet they feared God and
thought with great dread on what Antonio
had sworn, so that presently they came all
together, and reused Antonio, and said to
him:
MY lord, you have done much for US, and
ii may be that we have done somewhat for
you. But we will not suffer the sacred bones
to be hurt and scattered to the Winds
Except the duke yields have sworn it, as
God lives answered Antonio
I'VE care not. 1t shall not be-no-not
though you and we die said they.
1T is well; 1 hear, Z said Antonio, bowling
his head. ~
.Ir an hour, 'lsaid they, I'VE will take the
bones, if you will not yourself, my lcrd, send
tuclu pdch.
"Again I hear, said Antonio. bowing his
head, and the band went back to the fire
round which they had been sitting, all save
Martolo, who came and put his hand in An
tonio's hand.
How now, Martolo?'' asked Antonio.
"What, you will, | will, my lord" said
Martolo For though he rrembled when he
thought of the bones of st. Prisian. vet he
clung always to Antonio. AS for Bena and
the others OF the tenwho had gone to Rilano.
they had burnt not the bones only, but the
blessed saint himself, had Antonio hidden
them. Hard men, In thruth, were they and
reckless.
Now, the rest of the band being gone back
to their fire, and the night being very dark.
in great silence and caution, Antonio, Tom
masino, Martole, and their felows-being
thirteen in ail-rose from their places and
taking naught with them but their swords
(save that Antonio carried the golden casket).
they stole forth from the camp. and set their
faces to climb yet higher into the heights of
the hills. None spoke; one following an
other, they climbed the steep path that led
up the mountain side, and when they had
been going for the space OF an hour they
heard a shout from far below them.
"Our flight is known" said Tommasino.
''Sball we stand and meet them, my lord?"
asked Bena.>
"Nay, not yet," said Antonio: and the thir-
teen went forward again at the best speed
they could.
Now they were in deep gorge between
lofty cliffs, and the gorge still tended up-
ward. and at length they came to the place
which is now named Antonio's Neck, There
the rocks came nigh to meeting and utterly
barring the path. yet there is way that one
man, or at most two, may pass through at