The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-10-30

sparkle with anger.
"Gomalta demands the return of the
hill wheron the castle stands" he said
in German to his followers.
The men-at-arms laughed aloud.
The Kiowas looked at them keenly,
and their hands crept under Their
blankets. Heinrich caught at the
leather jirkin of one of the princes
men near him.
Carl p' he whispered.
The man lacked around i'm astonish-
ment.
81 must see the prince" Heinrich
said, stumbling over his words in his
haste. 'He must not let the Indians
go. And they must not see me-"
But Carl was stupid with surprise
and, to tell the truth, rather fuddled
with beer. SO he only stared and
wondered how the boy got in.
"Go, go," implored Heinrich, as al
angry confusion of voices reached him,
"Go tell the prince not to let Gomalta
go away"
But Carl only grinned and said some
thing to the man next to him. This
one was quicker-witted, and guessed
that something was wrong. He VEN
tured to approach the prince, but was
waved away with an imperious ges-
ture and naughty look of displeasure.
Gomalta with sign gathered his
braves about him and was about to
leave the hall when Heinrich bounded
out upon the floor and called in loud
voice to the prince:
"Your Highness, do not let them go.
They are traitors. Seize them ~
Gomalta flung up his arm a toma-
hawk hurled through the air, fell just
at Heinrich's feet and quivered in the
oaken floor. Instantly the men-at-
arms rushed TO the doors. There was
scene of wild fighting. Resembling
blows wore heard roaring cries in
German, in savage Kiowa.
But the princes men were three to
one and presently the storm ofstrife di-
minished. y space was cleared in the
centre of which stood Gomalta, secure
ly pinioned. Here and there lay an
Indian, his brain or body pierced by
hunting-knife, for the men-at-arms
dared not Use their firearms at such
close quarters, and indeed they had not
time for priming, nor for sight along
the musket barrels. One or two troop
ers, badly wounded, had fallen where
the fight was fiercest around the doors
Heinrich had been seized by Luala and
drawn behind the princes chair. They
ventured forth when the prince order
ed his men TO search for them.
Out they crept, gazing fearfully |
around them. The prince held out |
hand to Heinrich, who took it timidly |
and burst into tears when he saw the |
"Weep not, Helnrlcn, Out eXpIaIn
the words that caused all this strife"
Heinrich breathlessly related all that |
happened and shuddered at the dark
look that Gomalta bent upon him and
upon the little Indian maid, who stood
near with the vermillion flowers i'm her
hair.
'He speaks the truth" she said, CUES
sing at the meaning of his words when
Heinrich had finished his story. "The
tribe and our allies, the Wacos, even
now await Gomalta's signal-the flare
of light from the topmost height of the
castle.n
Troops were Immediately dispatched
to the different settlements to put them
on their guard against sudden attack,
and word was sent ofGomalta's intend
ed treachery.
Fortunately Fredericksburg waa not
far distance, and the Sophienburg-So-
cietv were safe in the town when the
news came. Bertalda had given Ray
mond the note that Heinrich had left
in her hand, which ran:
"MY DEAR FATHER The prince
hath need me of and 90 To the castle at
en-. Perhaps the prince may take me
to Fredericksburg with in time for the
fest.
Your little son Heinrich"
Raymond, supposing that the prince
had sent for Heinrich, though puzzled
over the secret manner of his going,
concluded to push on. The weather
was warm, and travelling by night in
the cool moonlight was pleasanter than
sweltering i'm the hot sun of early May.
And so they reached Fredericksburg
before dawn.
Gomalta was induced TO sign anoth-
er and more satisfactory treaty under
a very wholesome fear of the German
prince. He was held in bondage until
the tribe had washed off their war
paint, and returned to their own hunt
ing grounds
When he was allowed to go with his
braves Luala begged TO remain in the
village. She was adopted by the prince
and rode beside Heinrich as they jour-
neyed to Fredericksburg.
The fest had not yet opened, for the
| frightened settlers were in arms await
ing orders from the Sophienburg. As
the cavalcade entered the settlement
the cheers of the Saengerbund greeted
| them. The societies took up the line
of march, singing Luther's noble
hymn.
The mr. rince lifted Heinrich from the
saddle, imprinted kiss in true Ger
man fashion upon his cheek and placed
him in his fathers arms. A tear shone
in Luala's dark eyes rs Bertalda led
her into the house.
The kings settlement gave itself up
to the gayety of the Mai-fest. Never
did the societies sing so well, and at
last Heinrich took his place upon the
vine-trimmed stage. Bertalda had
made for him troubadour's costume
of dark green, and Luala had stuck an
eagles feather in his cap. As he began
to sing to the accompaniment of his
fathers violin, mocking-bird rose on
light wing from an oleander tree and
trilled in response. The enthusiastic
singers shouted with delight. The
prince himself placed the myrtle
wreath upon the troubadour's head.