Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-12-14
CHAPTER II.
THE NIGHT ATTACK


What rumrus there was when
Baron LISTENS. the baroness and the
servants returned and found us shaken
and bloody and the prisoner escaped
Our mother had Mysteries before she
had done with kissing me, but our fla
thor swore big oath and rushed out
to order "boot and saddle" The gaping
menservants followed him, and Harry
started mp.
my boy, you cannot gol" cried our
beautiful mother, her face stained with
blood from his bruised lips.
81 have to 20, lady mother lam not
hurt, he answered over his shoulder
rs hc ran from the room.
! buckied on my sword belt and
cashed home my good blade. "You
too?' she moaned. But there was Il
flash Of pride in her eyes that we were
both true SONS.
81 must mother, to look after our
gentlemen oc title, to see thpt they
come to no harm" | laughingly re-
piled Then l bent Il went a little over
six feet even at that age and kissed
the pale upturned face. In another
minute | was climbing into the saddle
and strengthening my pistol holsters.
Six of us clattered out and down the
long avenue The afternoon was well
begun and the air was warm. We saw
two Of our men carrying a body ont of
the ditch. 1t was the robber had run
through on the previous night. We
could see a gleam Of red sash and metal
telt where another lay on the fresh
turned burrows. Spreading out into the
fields that bordercd the road we beat
every cover, but no giant mountaineer
could we find.
Harry, because Of the heat had
pulled the Landages from his face, leav
ing the blue lump on his forehead and
the swollen jaw exposed to view.
When the dusk of evening and the
chill mist from the swamp had over
taken us--and not until then did my fa-
ther order return-we wheeled silent
~ on the wide road and cantered back
toward the house of LISTENS.
1--WE will break up their nest Dart,
boy, as soon as the crops are in, - said
my father, laying his hand on my knee
as we swung along.
al only want the chance to charge
into them" answered, "but the peas
ants say that they are many and well
armed. "
Eyes, and every man Of them has
innocent blood on his hands and is an
outlaw from his country, whatever land
that may be, for they come from every
where, but we are true subjects Of our
king and noblemen of Wassmark.
think if we call in the foresters we will
break tl~n.
He put ont his other hand and pressed
Harry shoulder.
Little things like this meant much
from the Baron listens
When we gained the courtyard, they
We're awaiting rs anXiously with Ian
terms and candles. In the hall orr
mother unbuckled our sword belts,
First her husband :, then Harry's, then
mine. II was queer to see her pull loose
the great buckles and drag the changing
scabbards aside. She was smiling all
the while with the joy of our return,
and the father stood with broad grin
on his shaver lips, and his eyes follow
in2 every move she made.
That night we had supper in the lit
tie tapeStred parlor off the dining hail
There were six of us around the table
Ny mother sat at the tea urn (rathel
an uncommon piece of table plate il
those days. and my father at the roun(
of beef at the other end. Mistress Saral
Lyons the widow of an English Officer
who had been slain in Wassmark, anC
my mothers right hand in all house
keeping matters, sat beside Harry, an(
opposite them scared old Lieutenan
Red Harding and your humble cadet
Red Harding was peasant by birth
but had done such good service as
soldier to the house of LISTENS that n
had long ago been dubbed gentleman
and treated as one.
Though a raid from the mountain
outlaws hung over us, we formed
merry party, the baron drawing on
Red Harding to tell stories Of the wood
and people, and the baroness saying al
manner of witty things, Mistres
Lyons told us tales Of England. from
which we gathered that the peopl
there are very strong and brave, eat a
muc1 ~ is good for them, drinX III,
!. Germans and 90 to church regularly.
We could hear now and then a shout
of laughter or a burst of song from the
men in the outer hall Foresters anC
: keepers, shepherds and plowmen hat
: been called in to form garrison.
/, We dld not tarry over the fire aftel
: supper, but retired to our chambers
Harry and | slept in turret room that
overlooked the rear walls and wild
!. field lying ready for the sowing of tn,
grain. Bare and chill it looked unde
the white stars.
We were tired and sore, but afte
throwing off our stiff skirted coats il
- which it was our habit to sup, ant
l putting aside our lace collars, W
sprawled in the window seat and gGzeC
: out.
0 Here and there glimmerod the ligh
y of a cottage window. Unlike some land
holders, the LISTENS gave their peopl
cottages instead of hints and kind word
u instead of kicks, This was much to on
U advantage, as you will presently see
e We had no light in the room, an
u Harry, who was three years my senio
q and had been several times at Blaten