Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-09

termined upon a scheme worthy of the
mingled Celtic and Saxon blood from which
he sprang. Opening one sack and letting
forth the oats it contained, he crept within,
| drawing the neckstring to from within and
cutting a few airhoIes with his dagger. He
wanted to go TO the wars at all hazards
/ and in this manner to the wars he went.
| John Smith bore up brayely against
cramp. hunger and thirst for a good thirty
| four hours In his strange saddle. But on
the eve of the second day. while the party
were encamped for the night by the royal
town of Windsor, he managed to slip out Of
| his sack and go on foraging tour. This
| proved so successful that he tried 1t again
| courage and high blood, the surprise COM
| pletely destroyed all presence Of mind. Each
locked at the other. white-faced and unable
to move. Nearer came the halberdisrs.
Then up spake John Smith, and he spake
with a will.
"Shut to and bolt the door," he said The
spell was broken. dozen boys rushed to
obey his order "Now up with the anvil
against it," was his next command, and this
also they obeyed The door was barrcaded.
Lord Ranulph." said John, you are
quick afoot, Crawl through the chimney hole
In the roof. and run and bring us aid. We
Will hold the force against the French"
Eager hands hoisted Ranulph through the
hole which permitted the escape of smoke
and heard him drop to the earth at the back
of the smthy. BY this time the butt of
halbred was banging against the door and
French voice demanded admittance. But
John Smith had placed great pot filed with
water from the we'll above the roaring fur
mace; and while 1t was boiling he had
crept out upon the roof, and, leaning over,
thrown the still heated end OF one OF the
old pixies into the French below. A howl
OF anguish was the result, followed, after
brief pause, by general rush against the
door. But the stout oak, supported by the
iron anvil held firm as yet. Two boys now
aided John Smith upon the roof. and flung
hot iron brands passed up from below, into
the halberdiers.
The French retreated so as to surround
the forge and dislodge the defenders from its
roof. Their delay gave the water over the
furnace time to boil. and ii was passed up In
rusty morions, steel helmet pots and such
impromptu bowls found in the force. When
the enemy approached near enough to reach
the boys with their long halberds they were
greeted with showers OF boiling water, the
supply OF which was constantly replenished
below. Stil, one of the gallant lads--Hum-
phrey Bohun, indeed-was hurt by halberd
which soldier, scalded by the water, had
hurled at him. Bohun was let down into the
forge and another took his place.
But this sort OF fight could not last for
ever, and the Frenchmen, growing wise by
experience, had just hit upon a scheme Of
hIrling large stones from a safe distance
through the dreaded smoke-hole; while pro-
tected by this fusilade batterng party was
to rush forward and hammer down the door, |
when |
Nv.
"Sant George for Merrle England! An |
Edward! An Edward"
Up leapt John Smiths heart for Joy. and |
up, too, went his head through the smoke |
hole to see what meant that rousing cry.
The sight he beheld was SO joyful that he |
forgot all prudence. and sprang forth boldly |
upon the roof. For up the hill TO the rear
came galioping a company OF English horse,
led by a man In black armor. by whose side
he recognized his own master. the Baron de
Mountchesney, with little Ranuph riding
behind him. The French halberders saw