The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1899-10-04

spend in trying to hire an animal Of some
kind TO ride
We stopped at the Bell inn, near the gate,
and, after a deal Of bargaining, which CON
sumed a good hour, the landlord agreed TO
hire me his mule for two crowns The ras.
cal wanted ten at first. just a. the matter
was settled dozen or 40 Of troopers rode
in, and, spying the mule in the twinkling Of
an eye, claimed il for carriage purposes.
II was in vain that the landlord protested
that il was his last beast, that il had been
hired 20 the noble cavaliere, meaning me,
and many other things beside. The soldiers
were deaf TO his entreaties, and, although l
had more than a mind TO draw on the vii
lains, | had the good sense TO restrain my.
self, for the odds were too many against
me. therefore hid my chagrin under a
SMILE and the mule was led away amidst
the lamentations Of mine host, who was fur.
thcr put out Of pocket by a gallon or so Of
wine, which the troopers consumed, doubt
less in honor Of the prize they had taken,
ncglccting in the true fashion Of the com.
plgnes grandcs 20 pay for il. II was a TT
lesson TO the landlord, for had he not, in
his cupidity, haggled for an hour over the
hire of the animal, he might have been
richer by two crowns and still owned his
mule. Thus il u that avarice finds its own
punishment
On going of. the leader Of the troop, a man
whom ! knew by sight and by reputation
as a swashbucklcr, II ever there was one,
made me a mock salute, saying, in allusion
to my quietness in surrendering my claim
to the mule: "Adieu, Mcsser Feather Cap
may your courage grow as long rs your
sword" This taunt | swallowed ruefully,
and Immediately set about my departure.
My companion, who was not mixed up in
the alteration, joined me silently, and we
followed IN the direction taken by the troop
crs, pursued by the maledictons Of the inn.
keeper, who vented his spleen on us as the
indirect cause of his misfortune.
The foragers, who, owing to the warmth
Of the weather, had removed their breast
plates, which were Sung TO their saddles,
were going at walking pace; and it was
amusing to see how the mere sight Of their
presence cleared the streets. Noting, how
ever, that they did not appear so be bent on
personal injury. we did not think il neces-
sary to 90 out Of our course, OF delay our
departure until they left the town, and as
we walked fast and they went slowly, by
the time they had reached the main square,
we were not more than dozen yards behind
them.
At this moment we noticed the figure of
woman, apparently blind. for she was
guided by a little dog attached to a string.
The poor creature was crossing the pave
ment almost in front Of the leader of the
troop, and, as she was right in the path
of the troopers, we attempted TO warn her
10y shouting, and she stopped irresolutely.
hardly knowing which way 10 turn. The
troop leader, without making any effort to
avoid her, rode on in pitiless manner, and
she was flung senseless to the ground. In
this her hood fell back, uncovering her face,
and my companion, suddenly uttering loud
cry, ran forward, and, seizing her in his
arms, began to address her with every term
Of endearment, in the manner of a father 10
his child.
The troopers halted-discipline it will be
observed was not great-and one of them
with rough sympathy called to my friend
to bear the girl, for so she looked, 10 the
fountain, at the same time that their conf
mander gave loud order to go on, and to
leave of looking at a fool and beggar. |
had, however, made up my mind that there
was little work for me, and, drawing my
sword, stepped up TO the swashbucklcr's
bride, and asked for a five-minutes' inter
view there and then.
lie burst into a loud laugh. "Corpo di
Bacco! Here is Messer Feather Cap with his
courage grown. Here, two Of you bind hin,
TO the mule"
But the men with him were in no moo1
to obey, and one Of them openly said:
at is always thus with the ancient Brieo."
do you intend TO give me the pleasure !
seek" / asked, "or has the ancient DTico
taken of his heart with his corseletH
For a moment il looked as if he were
about to ride at me; but my sword was
ready, and was standing too close to him
for any such treachery to be carried of.
Flinging the reins, therefore, TO the neck OF
his horse, he dismounted slowly and drew
his sword. A number of the townsfolk,
attracted by the scene, so far forgot their
fear of the foragers as TO collect around us,
and in few moments a ring was formed,
one portion of which was occupied by the
troopers.
Brico took his stand so as TO place the
sun in my eyes, o manifest unfairness, for
we should have fought north and south; yet
made no objection, and unclasping my
cloak let it fall TO the ground behind me.
"a vous!" he called out, and the next mo-
ment we engaged in the lower circle, my op
ponent, for all his French cry, adopting the
Italian method, and using dagger TO parry.
For a few seconds we tried TO feel each
other, and was delighted with the balance |
Of my sword. 1t did not take me half a min |
ute to see that he was a child in my hands, |
and | began to rapidly consider whether il |
would be worth the candle TO kill him or |
not Brico, who had commenced the as
'ault with a stamp Of his foot and a sue |
ression of rapid thrusts in the lower lines, |
became aware of his weakness as soon as | |
lid, and began TO back slowly twice |
Dricked him over the heart, and his hand J
began TO shake so that he could hardly hold |
bis weapon.
Make way there" called out, mocking.
y, "the ancient would like to run little"
Maddened by this taunt, he pulled him. |
elf together and lunged recklessly at me in
fierce; il was an easy parry, and with a
Itrong beat disarmed him. lie did not |
wait, but with the rapidity of hare turned |
md fled, not so fast, however, but that was
lble TO accelerate his departure with a
itroke from the fiat Of my sword.
"Adieu, ancient Bricol" ! called out after
hin as he ran on, followed by howl Of de.
-ision from the crowd, in which his own
men joined.
II was lucky that adopted the course oi
lisarming him, for, had the affair ended
otherwise, ! doubt not that the men-at.
rms would have felt called UPON 10 ayenge