The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-10-22
A ROMAN LEGtONARY.

Escape of . Bravo Young singer from
Heavily Armed Guard.
On the bank of the deep and swift
river stood a fully armed soldier OF that
terrible power which overshadowed al
the known world. To Cyril, that soli-
tary legionary, stationed there to pre-
vent such as he from crossing the
Kishon, was an embodiment of all the
enemies of Israel and Judah. The sol
dier stood erect, with his plum. or
broad-bladed spear, in his right hand.
The visor of his bronze helmet was
open. He seemed to have understood
the trumpet-noDe of warning, and was
looking in all directions. His sword
hung at the left side, ready for use, and
on his left arm was large round
shield, now raised little as he scanned
the vineyards and the river-bank, as
if he wondered from which OF them an
enemy could come upon him at that
time and place. After a few moments.
he turned away and strobe slowly,
vigilantly, along the river-bank, while
Cyril watched him
"Good!" exclaimed Cyril, at last
'sHe is far enough, now. l can reach
the river"
Out he darted and sprang away to-
ward the Kishon. OF course he was at
once seen by the quick-eyed patrol, and
hoarse and loud came the Latin sum-
mons to halt. To disobey was sure and
instant death if Cyril should be over
taken, and he would be followed with
relentless persistence if he should es-
!. cape; but he bounded steadily for
ward while the soldier ran toward hrm-
! The soldier ran well, too, considering
! the weight of arms and armor he car
! ried, for all Roman legionaries were
/ trained athletes; but he could not get
/ between the armorer's son and the
| Kishon.
Not broad, but very deep and swift,
! was the torrent that came rushing
down from its sources among the Gil
boa hills. A spring, splash. and Cyril
was swimming vigorously, though
swept along downstream by the strong
/ current. while his left hand held his
rolled-up robe high and dry above the
/ water.
Fierce. indeed, were the threatening
commands of the DICTIONARY, but on the
brink of the Kishon he was compelled
to halt and consider. No doubt he
could swim, but not well with his heavy
armor. his shield and his sword.
Lightly and rapidly swan Cyril, and
! in q few moments more he was out on
the northerly banks of the Kishon-
| sending back a shout of triumph and
| defiance. But he meant to send back
something more. His eyes were
! swiftly searching the ground around
him, while he drew out something
/ which had been hidden among the
folds of his robe.
4 1t was q square of leather, as broad
! as his two hands, with corner-straps
as long as his arm-a sling, such as
David used of old. In that older day.
all the tribe of Benjamin, to which the
house of Ezra the Swordmaker be-
loneed, were noted singers; and here
was their young representative, stoop-
ing to pick up smooth, rounded pebbles,
as David had picked up his pebbles
from the brook in the valley of Elah.
In an instant he was erect again. sling
in hand, while yet the soldier stood con-
sidering the risk of swimming the
Kishon.
Whirl went the sling, with such a
swiftness that it could hardly be seen.
and away hissed the stone. No doubht
the Roman had faced singers, many a
time; but the distance was more than
so years, and he may not have expected
SO true an aim. Up went his shield.
indeed, second too late, and well for
him that he bowed his head, for Cyrifs
first pebble struck him full upon the
crest. 1t did not knock him down, only
because, in the heat of the day, he had
loosened the fastenings of his helmet,
so that the blow of the stone struck it
from his head, and sent it rolling away
in the grass.
j No crossing of the Kishon now, with
that singer to practice upon his bare
head all the way! Expert warrior
though he was, he had enough to do
for the next two minutes in warding OH
with his shield the well-aimed peb-
bles which rapidly followed the first
William o. Stoddard, in St. Nicholas.