Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-03-22

better luck than at Bucine, intended to
spend in trying to hire an animal of some
kind to ride.
We stopped at the Bell inn, near the gate,
and, after deal Of bargaining, which con-
sumed good hour, the landlord agreed to
hire me his mule for two crowns. The ras-
cal wanted ten at first. Just as the matter
was settled dozen or so of troopers rode
in, and, spying the mule, in the twinkling of
an eye, claimed it for carriage purposes.
It was in vain that the landlord protested
that it was his last beast, that it had been
hired to the noble cavaliere, meaning me,
and many other things beside. The soldiers
were deaf to his entreaties, and, although l
had more than mind to draw on the vii
lains, had the good sense to restrain N.Y.
self, for the odds were too many against
me. therefore hid my chagrin under a
smile, and the mule was led away amidst
tbs lamentations of mine host, who was fur
Their 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,
ncglecting in the true fashion of the COM
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
mule. Thus it is that avarlce finds it's own
punishment.
On going off, the leader of the troop, a man
whom I knew by sight and by reputation
as a swashbuckler, if ever there was one,
made me mock salute, saying, in allusion
to my quietness in surrendering my claim
to the mule: "Adieu, Messer Feather-Cap
may your courage grow as long as 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
ers, pursued by the maledctions 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 slung 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 to be bent on
personal injury, we did not think it neces-
sary to 60 out of our course, or 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 a
woman, apparently blind, for she was
guided by little dog attached to 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
by shouting, and she stopped irresolutely,
hardly knowing which way to 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 a loud
cry, ran forward, and, Selling her in his
arms, began to address her with every term
Of endearment, in the manner of father to
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, to the
fountain, at the same time that their COM
mander gave loud order to 60 on, and to
leave off looking at fool and beggar. I
had, however, made up my mind that there
was little work for me, and, drawing my
sword, stepped up to the swashbuckler's
bride, and asked for fve-minutes' inter-
view there and then.
He burst into loud laugh "Corpo di
Bacco! Here is Messer Feather-Cap with his
courage grown. Here, two of you bind him
to the mule"
But the men with him were in no mood
to obey, and one of them openly said:
ut is always thus with the ancient Brico."
"Do you intend to give me the pleasure !
SEEK I asked, cor has the ancient Brico
taken off his heart with his corselet?"
For a moment it looked as if he were
about to ride at me; but my sword was
ready, and l was standing too close to him
for any such treachery to be carried off.
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
tear OF the foragers as to collect around us,
and in few moments 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, 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 few seconds we tried to feel each
other, and I was delighted with the balance
of my sword. 1t did not take me half min
ute to see that he was child in my hands,
and began to rapidly consider whether it
would be worth the candle to kill him or
not. Brico, who had commenced the as
sault with stamp of his foot and a sue
cession of rapid thrusts in the lower lines,
became aware of his weakness as soon as I
did, and began to back slowly. I twice
pricked him over the heart, and his hand
began to shake so that he could hardly hold
his weapon.
MAKE way there" called out, hooking
ly, 'the ancient would like to run little"
Maddened by this taunt, he pulled him.
self together and lunged recklessly at me in
tierce; it was an easy parry, and with
strong beat I disarmed him. He did not
wait, but with the rapidity of hare turned
and fled, not so fast, however, but that was
able to accelerate his departure with
stroke from the flat of my sword
"Adieu, ancient Brico" I called out after
him as he ran on, followed by howl of de-
h. IL