The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-02-25

therefore moving less quickly, 1t was but
three hours short of noon when they heard
the voices of men from the other side of the
neck. And Antonio cried straightway:
Come not through at your peril. Yet one
may come and speak with me-.
Then a great fellow. whose name is va
riously given, though most of those whom
/ have questioned call him Sancho, came
through the neck, and reaching the end OF
1t found the crossed SWORDS OF Antonio
and Bena like a fence against his breast.
And he saw also the great pile of wood,
and resting now on the top OF it the golden
| caslxet that held the sacred bones. And he
said TO Antonio: ,
MY lord, we love you; but sooner than
| that the bones should be burned, we VIII
Kill you and all that are with YOU"
And Antonio answered: Il also love you,
shall die sooner than that my oath shall be
| broken" ;.
You speak truly" answered Antonio.
Then Sancho went back through the neck
| and took counsel with ms telIoWerS, and
they made him their chief. and promised 10
be obedent to all that he ordered. ANA ne
| said: Let two run at their hiSest speed
through the neck; ii may De Wen lney VIII
die but the bones must be saved. Ana after
them two more. and again two. Anu VIII
pe of the first two"
But they would not suffer him to be of
the first two, although he prevailed that
he should be of the last two. And the
six being chosen, drew their swords, and.
with a cry, rushed into the neck. And An
tonic, hearing their feet, SAID to Bena:
"A quick blow is as good as a slow,
Bena." And even as he spoke the first two
came to the opening or the neck But
Antonio and Bena struck at them before
they came out of the narrowest part or
could WELD their swords freely; and The
second two coming on, Bena struck ct enc
and wounded him in the breast; and he
wounded Bena in the face, over the right
eye; and then Bena slew him; while An
tonic slew his man at his first shove. and
the fifth man and Sancho, the sixth, COM
ing on, Antonio cried loudly:
"Are you mad? We could hold the neck
against a hundred"
But they would not stop; and Antonio
slew the fifth, and Bena was in the act to
strike at Sancho, but Antonio suddenly
dashed Sancho's sword from his hand and
caught him a mighty buffet so that he
that were dead.
go back. fool 80 back" he cried
And Sancho, answering nothing, gathered
himself up and went back, for he per
ceived now that not with the loss of half
of his men would he get by Antonio and
Bena, and beyond them stood Tommas-
stoutest of the band.
IT'S sore days work, Rena," said
Antonio looking at the dead bodies.
IF man be too great a fool to Keep
himself alive. my lord, he must die" am
swered Bena, and he pushed the bodies a
little further back into the neck with ms
Then Sancho's company took counsel
again for, much as they reverenced the
sacred bones there was none of the's
eager to enter the neck. Thus they were at
loss till the shepherd who tad come
along with them spoke TO Sancho, saying;
AT the cost of long journey you may
come at him, for there is a way round
trat l can lead you by. Rut you viii not
traverse it in less than twelve or thirteen
hours taking necessary rest by the way.
But Sancho, counting the cime, said:
at viii serve! For, although a thousand
came against him, yet the count will not
burn the bones before the time of his
oath"
the neck in case Antonio should offer to
return back through it, and with the rest
he followed the shepherd with great
stealth and quiet by reason OF which and
Of the rock between them Autonio knew
not what was to be done, but thought
that the whole company lay still on the
Thus the day wore to evening, as the
archbishop with the Lord Lorenzo and the
guards came to the spur or the MUS, ana
I here they found man waiting VINO crled
DO you bring the dukes promise to the
Count Antono?"
''Yes, we bring it," said they
81 ann charged" said ne, TO lea1 the
archbishop and one other after the count"
But since the archbishop could not Climb
the hills being old and weary, orcnzo
constrained the man 10 lake WIN hlin
four Of the guards besides, ana the tC ur
bore the archbishop along. Thus they we're
led through the secret tracks in the hills
and these Lorenzo tried to engrave on his
memory, that he might come again. But
the @ay was long and devious, and II
was hard TO mark IL. Thus going they
came TO the nuts, and passing the hutS
SSH climbed YEARLY till they arrived
near to the neck. Ii was then night, and
they guessed, near on the time when
Antonio had sworn to burn the sacred
! bones; therefore they pressed on II ore
and more, and came at last TO The en-
trance OF the neck. Here they found the
fifteen, and Lorenzo, running up cried
I'VE bring the promise. we bring the
promise"
when a sudden great shout came from the
other side Of the neck and Lorenzo. draw
! ing his sword. rushed into the neck. the
fifteen following, yet leaving space be-
tween him and them. lest they Should see
him fall, pierced by Antonio and Bena.
Utterins cry, What are these" he
scrambled again to his feet ana passed
uuhurt through the mouth of the neck,
ana the fifteen followed after him, while
The guard supported the archbishop in their
hands. his chair being too wide 10 pass
through the neck. And when they all thus
came through. wild ana strange was the
sight they saw For it chanc5d that al
the same time Sanchos company had COM
pleted their circuit and had burst from be-
hind upon Antonio and the twelve. And
when the twelve saw them they retreated
10 the great pile and made a ring round it,
and stood there ready TO die rather than
allow SanchoS men to reach the pile. And
ii was then midnight and the time OF
Count Antonio's oath. And Count Antonio
stood on the top Of the great pile At his
feet lay Tie golden casket containing the
Aud he cried aloud Hold them while |
fire the pile" and he leaped down and
came to The side of the pile and laid his
torch to the pie. And In an instant the
flames shot up. for the pile was dry.
Now, when Sancho'S men saw the pile
alight with shouts of horror and of ter
ror they charged at the top OF their speed
against the twelve who guarded the pile.
And Lorenzo and his men also rushed, but
the cries of Sancho'S company together
with the answering defiance of the twelve,
drowned the cries of Lorenzo. and Antonio
and the twelve knew not that Lorenzo was
come. And the flames of the pile grew and
the highest tongue of fame licked the side
of the golden casket. But Antonios voice
rose above all as he stood. aye. almost
within the ambit of the fire, and shouted:
Hold them a moment, Tommasino-a
moment, Bena, and the thing is done!"
Theu Lorenzo tore his casque from his
head and flung down his sword and rushed
vnarned between Antonio'S men and San
cho's men, shouting louder than he had
Thought ever to shout: THE promise! the
pro,nise!" And ut the same moment $50 II
is told but tell IL as Ii is tolD there
came from heaven Il great flash OF hight
ming. which, aiding the light of the flames.
fully revealed the features of Lorenzo.
Back fell Sanchos men, and Antonio's ar
rested their swords. And then they all
cried as men cry in great JOY. The prom
Use. the promise!" And for moment all
stood still where they Were. And the
flames leaped higher. and as Antonio had
said they We're seen by the great throng
tJ,at p-aZnd from the citv walls and thew