Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-08-16
CHAPTER VIII.
THE CAPTURE OF THE oApE.

Merrlly on the afternoon OF the same
day swung into the saddle. fecked
good Hagart with my gloves and set
the tall houses and noisy streets slip
ping behind me. Out of the gates, past
the staring sentries and sullen towers.
I rode with cheer.
The mud had dried up wonderfully
since our advent to the city, and Ha-
CART tossed his name back into my face
with the sheer joy of the open road.
We passed through the outlying viii
lagos and into the open country in less
than an hour. Then drew rein and
walked Hagart up hill The willows
and poplars were SO full of leaves and
summer wind that they seemed things
Of the air-not gross vegetables with
their roots deep in the ground. The
fields were bright with young grain.
the woods with birds
So we went. forgetting the scenes Of
battle, both man and horse glad with
the fullness Of life.
Dark was drawing down when far to
the north made out the blue heads Of
the mountains and knew that LISTENS.
with all its cheer and love. lay not five
miles in front of me.
Then fell to dreaming and entered
the firwood of the Monks Cross at slow
walk. with no thought ofrapier or dag,
and. as in an ugly dream, Hagart was
thrown back on to his launches. and ]
was dragged from the saddle
I swore a full mouthed oath and
kicked over some of the men who held
me. Hagart jumped clear, battered
down two rogues with his unshod feet
and Numbered away toward LISTENS.
Swearing nightly at Hagart's escape.
they bound me viciously and tied me
astride mountain pony. What joy.
full ending, this. to all my dreamsl Then
a horrible feeling of sickness came over
me, and l, shivered with cruel chill
My wound. which before / had thought
little Of, now began to pain and my
head to swim. swooned, and upon re-
covering consciousness found the pony
upon which rode picking it's way over
rocks and around gullies. Owing to the
darkness could not make out the
number Of the fellows about me. but
by their fierce and mixed jargons l
knew them to be robbers from the
North mountains.
Presently fellow at my stirrup said,
"Now, 1ordling. what do you think
your father will pay to get you backf 2"
''Dogl" muttered.
keep that talk for the dead bodies
Of the men hanged by the neck and
answer my question, he growled in a
threatening voice.
''Not penny if can help it. A
sword and well aimed dag would set
me free of you in half a minute. you
scum of the potl
He laughed at my words. though
think they suited him none too pleas.
antly.
lyon are gay little cock, /" he re-
torted. land worth about 1000 crowns
to the baron"
| l was faint. but this speech touched
me to the anger of child
.' Little cock' you canaillel Just
let me down. and will show you my
six feet of littleness, raved.
After that, for what seemed to me
years. we rode in silence. Our path be.
came steep and rough, and three Ian.
terms had to be lighted Dizzy though
was, managed to count 10 men in
the party around me
| ----'-
II am surprised that such brave men
make such poor horse catchers, said.
thinking of the valiant Hagart.
They swore holly at this. and one
fellow said he would knock my head of
II I didn' keep quiet When we halted
and they unbound me from the saddle,
fell prone with exhaustion Some one
took me by the heels and dragged me
into little burrow foored with straw
and there let me lie. was hungry and
tired, but as nothing came in the way
Of food fell into fitful sleep
When I opened my eyes, tho sun wat
falling cheerfully into my rough abode.
and my hands were free. At my elbow
stood can of water and a small LOAF
Of black bread l drank the water
greedily and tried to eat few crumbs
Of the loaf, but could not My head
ached. and my limbs trembled.
A lout armed to the teeth strolled
up and down in front Of my door.
From all around came the shrill laugh
ter and vile jests Of slatternly women
q