Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-09

Heau toWerenn H1gh ABOVE the Don s. Dut
despite repeated efforts. he failed to get a
sight of the strangers face, for wide
brinmed hat with heavy feather partial
ly shrouded leg ahd, as surely as the riders
came into Ge&m Of moonlight, where L.
| silvered their road from point to point. so
surely would sDon ialyn turn away his
Eead and thus Fender any view Of his fea-
lures impossible! He rode upon the troop
sequel Of thesi entire Incident. This now
| suddenly happened with the appalling
swiftness Of a t9hunderbolt.
They were then riding through narrow
gorge. and at point where the path sank
sharply and wound In zimmerman darkness
under beetling crags, the soldier spoke:
such place might be worth Jews eye
, well posted Is WisP musAess could STAY u
AS though the-w words had been signal
they were pointed by a flash of fire which
leapt suddenly from the crown of a rock
no leaden ball screamed by them, though
precipices to right and left rang loudly out,
magnifying the solitary discharge into a
volley. Manrique's life, however, was hone
the less assaulted, and that viciously; for
as he refined back his horse and turned to
ny the ambush, he felt heavy blow OH his
right breast and heard the sharp crack of
swapping STEEL His own companion 1t was
who had seized the opportunity and struck
him hard and deep-a blow which must
have certainly ended the soldiers interest
In worldly affairs save for that armor be-
meath his dOublet. To draw and holly en-
gage the traitorous fiend was the work of
a moment; but the Spanard. despite his
statements to the contrary, possessed evil
cent knowledge of warlike affairs. and
when Manrique's heavy weapon beat down
MS enemys napier and fell with a crash
upon Don Galyn's shoulder the tables We're
turned, for his sword blade shivered on
proof Already that dark gorge was alive
with hurrying figures. and before the as
saulted man could retreat dozen mail-cIad
Toes, rising like spirits from the gloom
were upon him.
Don Galyn made no further effort to
hide his face; and Manrique now observed
with some horror that it Vas black-coal
black, with piercing eyes shining bead-lik 2
from 1t. No hooded devil of the inqulsition
heating flesh pncerS or screwlng a rack
could have appeared more nideous Four
others Of the band had similar faces. and
the discounted soldier seeing escape i'm
possible, alighted submitted to be bound
and then asked briefly what might be the
will of his captors-a question to which
Don Galyn replied:
why. tits first to learn thy business
friend. From whence contest thou? And
upon what enterprise art thou embarked?'
MY name is Feria Manrique. soldier of
Spain, and privileged by his majesty to en-
JOY liberty from arms If l will My mis-
sion is from the court of Brussels to Mons.
And you, seigneur, would have murdered
me! Wherefore?"
Ills for Us, not thee to put the ques-
ton. l struck thee not, but only strove to
dlsarm thee" answered Don Galyn, with
cool mendacity. Now, let us seek the
bonfire and light torch or so; this mat
ter needs illumination"
They turned through a cleft among the
cliffs, and found themselves within small
theater of stone and Sward, surrounded by
high rocks. Here preparations had already
been made, and fire was now set to a mass
Of dry pine and bushwood which, blazing
up and burning freely, soon painted the
fa n IN CT hlnn6V a
| flashed on the armor of the soldiers, and
lent a strangely hideous appearance to the
black masks of Manrques conquerors. The
prisoner kept his wits, and noted by the
freight, that more than one of the mer-
cenaries about him were men whom he per-
sonaly knew. His reputation was great.
and he trusted it might serve him with
some, at least, of those who had been his
comrades in times past Happily, they
seemed of one mind in important par
ticular. They esteemed their captive, know
ing him.. some personally, all by repute;
and though the fortunes of rascally in
trgue had now placed him in the hands
of powerful men who must prove bitter enc
mics If thwarted yet the soldiers declared
they would not suffer the favored of the
king to be slain Anon the masks, who
had been conversing aside, came forward,
and seated themselves about the fire, while
Don Galyn opened the matter. His line Of
argument had changed, and he spoke as
one bearing authority.
Mistake us not he began. 1--WE are
no lawless bandits of the night. sprur e
from these Businesses to over;yhelm thee
but the friends of order and honesty, led
by seigneurs of high degree. and sent forth
from Brussels by the lady whom thou serv-
est"
ITO take my life?"
Peace, Manrique, and give heed to ne
Thou art upon a secret mission COR the
Countess de Miranda. But the court hath
not left Brussels nor is it proposed that
it shall do so. Therefore the coun less would
have her priceless treasure again, and hat
dispatched us to acquaint thee with her
purpose
Where is thy authority. seigneur?"
Upon the word of Count de Veasco."
Were the count with We. l would not
yield the diamond to him. A barren word
is poor token for SO great a natter
Two of the black masks laughed. and a
third, whose voice was strangely harsh and
brutal. made utterance-
HE has the diamond. 1t is enough. The
rest lies with US. See now, Manrique, thou
art wholly in our power-to 60 with we
please"
Il know thee not, my lord, though thy
voice is the voice of the noble Seigneur de
Noircarmes,' answered the soldier
Name no names. dog" Numbered back
the other, angriy. The diamond! and
quickly!'
Not so, seigneur. The Red Dragon is
for the hand of Count de Miranda"
Strip him piecemeal then; heat out his
armor also, and tear every shred Of cloth
or leather upon him to tatters See like
wise to the furniture of his horse. Let
nothing be overlooked"
1t was Don Galyn who gave this COM
mand, and with reluctance his men obeyed
him. The black masks were also active,
and examined every particle of Manrique' 5
apparel before the glaring light of the bon
fire. First harness and saddle were chop
ped to pieces not greater than a haZelnut
every fragment being most closely scruti-
nized; then the captive soldiers armor
was hammered out, and proved to conceal
nothing. Beneath his breastplate appeared
the ivory box; but Don Galyn's gratifca-
ton at sight Of it changed quickly to anger
when he found the casket empty, and he
stamped the trif1e beneath his heel.
."Twas the property of Countess de Mi
rando of CASTLE. high in favor with the
regent and his majesty of Span," said
Manrique, drily.
But the remark cost dear: for Don Galyn,
turning furiously, smote him across the
mouth. whereupon he spat blood from his
| wounded lips, but was wisely silent.
Then, piece by piece, his leathern jerkin,
his breeches, long boots. stockings and
under raiment were cut to fragments and
probed and pierced alike by daggers and
| the keen eyes of the black masks. But not
| a glimmer of the Red Dragon rewarded
| their search.
Now the soldier stood bound hand and
| foot and naked before them, and at the
sight of him thus, NOircarmeS-for it was