Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-09-26
A Noble Knights
Adventure.

Sir ReSlualu ue CuJhDert, returning
from the Holy Land, belated In forest
sank on the ground to sleep.
He arose and perceiying light went
toward it. Arriving at castle gate he
knocked. No answer was returned, but
he felt an ice cold hand seize him and
pull him on.
Presently his guide left him. Horror
and chilly terror shook his whole
frame. The awful stiffness which sur.
rounded him was still uninterrupted.
The knight was fixed to the ground,
wildly staring through the tmpenetra-
BILE darkness. AT length a hollow sound
was heard, which seemed at great
distance. After long pause it vibrated
In his ear a second time. The idea that
he had nothing more to lose and that
every means of effecting an escape
from that residence of horror was cut
off entirely, subdued his fear and
prompted him to follow that sound.
few PAGES on brought him to a
stone staircase. Having descended five
steps, a doleful groan seemed to pro-
ceed from a room not far distant The
knight advanced slowly and with the
utmost circumspectiOn, muSing on his
perilous situation, when at once he felt
the passage obstructed by door which
opened without difficulty.
The room to which 1t led was also a
residence of darkness and dismal ST.
lence The knight was resolved to enter
it boldly. Fortunately, he examined the
entrance with his foot before he pro-
ceeded, and found with unspeakable
horror that it was bottomless.
The hollow, dismal sound again
struck his ear from q small distance.
He shuddered violently and staggered
forward Everything was now lonely
and silent all around. At length he
came to a second staircase, ascended
seven steps and then descended as
many, when his eyes suddenly beheld
faint glimmer of light which seemed
to emerge from below at a great dis
tance. Coming nearer, the knight OBJ
served that he was standing on the
brink of deep abyss, from which the
glimmer broke forth. An old half rot
ten staircase led down. He, however,
resolved to risk everything and, pull
ing off his shoes to avoid making a
sound, began to descend.
When he came to the eighth step, the
hollow sound was again repeated. The
knight stopped a moment and then
went on with returning courage.
When he had reached the middle, the
light suddenly disappeared, and i'm
penetrable darkness surrounded him
once more.
He stopped to consider what could be
done, when a stone got loose beneath
his feet and rolled down with a thun-
dering noise against the door of the
vault.
who disturbs my restY the hollow,
well known voice exclaimed.
Sir Reginald was riveted to the
ground in dread expectation. Terror
sealed his lips. The door Of the vault
opened slowly, and pale white figure
appeared enveloped in blaze Of red
light. 1t advanced two steps, lifted
up one hand in q menacing manner and
disappeared. rne slgnU OF unls oreau-
full apparition almost petrifed Sir Regi-
nald on the spot, lis senses seemed to
forsake him, and the blood congealed
within his veins.
The knight, having recovered a little
the use Of his senses, with difficulty re-
gained the top Of the steps and from
thence perceived a passage quite diff
ferent from the other, and, following
it, he arrived at the foot Of spiral
staircase.
IIu usvrudod many steps. ct lS9KtA
forclbiy against it with his right hand
and shattered glass pane into thou
sand pieces.
"Who is there| rough voice e1-
claimed. At the same time q door
opened, and a most alarming discourse
filled the knight with dismal apprehen-
sions.
Have you sharpened the knifeP one
of the takers asked
"Yes; it is bright and sharp" replied
the other voice. His blood shall flow
abundantly."
With these words the door burst
open. Horror and despair now winged
Sir Reginald's steps. He few down the
staircase, and had scarcely reached the
bottom when he was again seized by
the icy cold hand which he felt on his
entrance in that abode Of terror.
The knights senses seemed leaving
him when he came to with a start to
find himself drenched to the skin,
clutching his sword with both hands,
while his faithful steed was licking his
face, trying to make him get up and
continue his journey.
He had fallen asleep In the forest,
and his horrid adventure in the haunt.
ed castle were all a dream.
He arose, remounted his horse and In
half an hour was toasting his feet and
drinking hot punch before a roaring
fire in the village tavern at L..