The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-01
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On they came, dancing llne VI
light, a CLEAN of shining swords, with
the white plume of the bravest Of
them full three lengths in front.
give lie roi!' The breeze flung us
the deep-mouthed cheer as they broke
through the mailed ranks of de Rone's
own cuirassiers, and drove horse ana
foot, knight and knave, in a huddled
mob before them.
1t may have been fancy, but |
thought 1 saw in the press dark fig
ure that suddenly turned the reins of a
huge black charger and flew at the
king. For an instant two bright sword
blades crossed in the air, and then the
black horse plunged riderlesS. into tie
gray spate of smoke that the wind was
bearing westward, and groan as or
despair fell on my ears.
'Vive lie roi!' Once again came the
full-throated cry, and the bay horse
was galloping towards us, followed
by the line of swords, no longer Shin
ing, but dulled and red with the
slaughter they had made.
From a heap of dead and dying that
lay about two yards from me, hgufe,
so hideous with wounds that 1T seemed
barely human, rose to a sitting pos
ture, and then, staggering to its feet,
swayed backwards and forwards, with
the fragment of a sword still clutched
in it's hand. With a supreme effort IT
steadied itself, and, as the poor, maj
eyes, alive with pain, caught slght or
the enemy, they lit again with the
fire of battle, and de Leyva's voice
rang out strong and clear as of old:
The guns-the gunS-turn them on
the king!'
They are spiked" some one gave
answer with a grim, hopeless laugh.
AS he heard this reply, de Leyva
slipped sideways, and would have fall
en- had 1 not sprang forward and sup
ported him with my arm. He leaned
his smitten frame against me Tor d
moment, and something that was like
a sob burst from him. But he re-
covered himself on the instant, and:
with the strength so often given to
those who are about to die, pushed me
aside with an oath, and, shaking his
broken blade in the face of the ad-
vancing line, fell forwards in a mud
ding mass a dead man.
The next moment the enemy were
on us. We met them with a row Of
pixies; but what could we do, for we
were few in number, weary with the
long struggle, and weak with Wounds
The issue was never in doubt, ana
they broke us at once. l have vague
memory of fighting for dear life
amidst a thunder Of hOofs, and the
kissing sweep of swords, but was rid
den down by some one, and all became
dark around me.
When my mind came back. it was
with the consciousness, of rain that
was falling softly and the cool drops
FLASHED on my burning head with a
sensation of relief that l cannot de-
scribe I suffered from an intolerable
thirst, and strove to rise that I might
find means to quench it; but I found I
rnr~In IN
in my agony in the rut amidst the
cornstalks wherein 1 had fallen. The
rain was but passing shower, and
when it had ceased a light but cooling
breeze Sprang up. 1t was night, and
a fltful moon Shone through the uneasy
clouds that hurried to and fro over
head in the uncertain breeze which
shifted it's quarter as often as a
child might change its mind. seemed
to be alive only in the head, and began
to wonder to myself how long 1 was to
lie there until death came and with
it the end of all things I began to
wish it would come quickly, and there
was secret whispering in my soul to
pray-to pray to the God Of whom l
had never thought since childhood
to entreat- that Invisible Being, at
whose existence had SO often laughed,
to stOop from, above the stars and end
my pain, and. / cursed myself for q
white-livered cur that forgot the God
head In my strength, and III my weak
ness could almost have Shrieked to
Him for help. I pulled my fainting
courage up, as I thought that if there
was no God, it was useless wasting my
breath in calling for Him, whilst If,
on the other hand, there was one no
prayer of mine could go higher than
my swords point, were I to hold the
blade out at arms length above me
and now that the end was coming,
was not going to cringe and Whimper.
So my sinful pride caught me by the
heel as lay there in my dolor
A half hour or so may have passed
thus, and the moon was now almost
entirely obscured. Occasionally I could
hear through the darkness around me
the moaning of some poor wounded
wretch, and now and again arose the
shrill discOrdant shrek of a MANNED
horse, an awful cry Of pain, the effect
of which those only who may have
heard it can understand. Soon q num-
Der Of twinkling lights began to hover
over the plain. Sometimes they moved
forward rapidly, sometimes they were
raised and lowered, and at other times
stationary. Gradually two of these
lanthorns came closer to me, stopping
about ten PAGES off, and when I saw
who bore them 1 knew at once they
were death-hunters, and that in a few
moments the knife of one of these
ghouls might end my suffering. There
ere two of these fiends, a man and a
woman, and as they halted the man
mercy, the blow Of a dagger and a
groan. The robber busted himself In
searching the dead mans person, and
in the silence that followed the wom-
an with him threw up her head and
laughed horrid shrill laugh. It pealed
out with so eerie a sound that the
death-hunter sprang to his feet; but
finding who it was, burst into the
foulest language.
''Sangdieu! Be still, fool" he snarled,
cor you'll laugh another way if I tickle
you with my knife"
ooh, oh! The brave Maugfnot," an
swered the she-devil, you will tickle
me with your butcher knife-will you ?
I, too, can make you skip and she
shook a bright dagger in her long lean
arm, but suddenly changing her tone,
POUR she said, there is no use In
squabbling, partner. This Is the sixth
we have helped to hell tonight, and
not q broad piece amongst them Holy
Virgin! This is q field Of paupers-
let us begone"' and to my JOY she made
as if to go.
Stay, Babette! what shines there"
and Maug1nOt ran forward a couple Of
PAGES. and, bending low, wrenched
something from body, and then stood
up, holding it to the light.
L saw his face clearly, and saw als1
his prize. 1t was poor de Leyva's col
lar of the Golden Fleece, and the blood
stained hand of the croquemort held
it up to the lantern, and clinked th4
jeweled links, whilst he Toasted his
eyes on the gold and gems. over his
shoulders peered the pitiless features
of his partner, and in her eyes bIazed
all the bad light Of avarlce and mu;-