The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1895-03-04
COUNT ANTONIO AND THE HERMIT.

be gone. And have seen too much fight
ing TO be ashamed to run away from H."
"iiut my lord, they are at the gates"
- ,i is there no other gate?'
- ,.e my iori, save the little gate in
*, i 3, wal. ti.eee. atu STE, inc spindle mas
posed ten men there"
and he will search the bousc?'
81 fear that he viii, my lord for he must
have tidings Of your coming.
"Thcn where is my horse" said Count
Antonio, and Giuseppe showed him where
the horse stood i'm the shadow of the porti-
co. do not let him know added Antonio,
that the young men are OF my company,
and send them away i'm safety
''Gut what DO you, my lord" cried Gu
seppe.
what ] have done before. Giuseppe
ride for life answered the count
Then the count, delaying no more, ran
lightly down the stairs, Ieaped on his MORSE,
and, drawing mis- sword, rode forth from
tho portico and he was among the syn
dies company before they thought TO see
him; and ne struck right and left with his
sword ana they fen back before him In
fear, yet striking at him ass they shrank
away; and he had come clean OFF but for
one grizzly-haired fellow, who had served
much in free companies and learned cum
ming, for he stopped low, avoiding the
sweep Of Ant0nio's sword, and stabbed the
horse in its belly, and stood Wpl1S his
knife and saying: My legs are Old have
done my part-do yours; the horse VIII
not 60 far" And in truth the horse was
wounded TO death and it's bowels pfotEuded
from the wound. ana Antonio felt it talter
and stumble. Yet the gallant beast car
ricd him for half d mile, and then he
leapcd of, fearing it would ton under him
and he De crushed 10y it, and he drew his
sword across It's throat that it might not
huger in pain, and then ran on foot, hear
iug the cries Of the syndic's company press
ing on behind him. And thus be came TO
the Church of St. John, ana 10 the vault
Of the Pcschelt by IL. ard men We're dt
work preparing for CcSarc's funeral and
the door Of the vault was open. Antonio
hurled one man 20 the right and another
to the left and rushed into the vault. for
his breath failed and there was no chance
for his life We're he 0Vertaken in the open,
and before the men rCS&iltd their feet
he pulled the door Of the vault close and
sank on his knees inside, painting, and
holding his sword in readiness to slay any
who entered. Then the syudic and his
company came and called on him to sur
render. And Antonio cried, Come and
take me-" Then the syndic babe the work.
men pull open the door, but Antonio held
il with one hand against them both. Yet
at last they drew it open a little, and An
tonic lungCd with his sword through the
aperture and wounded the syndic III the
leg, so that he stumbled backward with
an oath. And dftCr That none was Wiling
10 enter first, until the grizzlv-haired fell
low came up, and he. seeing the aperture,
rushed at il sword i'm hand, fearing no man.
not even Count Antonio. Bat he could not
touch Antonio, and he also fell back with
a sore cash in his check; and Antonio
laughed, saying: shall / surrender,
syndicT'
Now the syndic was very urgent in his
desire to take Antonio, but MS men shook
their heads, and he himself could not
stand because Of the sword thrust i'll his
leg, and instead of lighting his company
began TO tell of the wonderful deeds An
tonic had done. and they grew no holder
by this. And the grizzly-haired fellow
Knocked them, saying that he would so
again at the aperture if two more would
attempt it with him; but none offered.
And the syndc ragged and rebuked them;
but he could not hurt them, being unable
to stand on his feet, so that one said bold
~: why should we die? The dukes COM
mSsaries viii be here tomorrow with a
company OF the guard. Let the count stay
in the vault till then. He is in safe keep
ing. and when he sees the guard he Will
surrender. 1t is likely enough that great
lord like the count would rather die than
give mp his sword to the syndic." Whereat
the syndic was very ill-plcased, but all
the rest mighty well pleased and, having
heard this counsel, they could by no means
be persuaded to attack again, and they
let Antonio draw the door close again.
being in truth glad to see the last of his
sword. Therefore the syndic, having no
choice set twenty to guard the entrance of
the vault and prepared to depart. But
he cried to Antonio. bidding him again to