Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-01-02

herself, for the sill sloped, and the
stone was finely smooth; but I shot
out my hand and gripped hers by the
wrist, and instantly she clambered
up with both knees on the sill and
her fingers twined round to grip my
wrist in her turn.
4 And now you will suppose she
gushed out prayers and promises,
thinking only Of safety and enlarge
ment. There was nothing Of this.
With savage painting wordlessness she
took fresh grip on the sharpened
bone with her spare hand. and lunged
with IL desperately through the ar
row-slit. With the hand that clutched
mine she drew me towards her, so as
TO give the blows the surer chance,
and so unprepared was I for such
an attack. and with such fierce sud
denness did she deliver it, that the
first blow was near giving me my
quietus. But I grappled with the
poor frantic creature as gently as
might be-the stone of the wall
separating us always-and stripped
her of her weapon, and held her firm
w captive till she might calm herself
"That was an ungrateful blow"
said. But for my hand you'd have
slipped and be the sport Of tigers
paw this minute"
"Oh. must kill some one" she
painted, "before I am killed myself"
"There will be time enough TO
think upon that some other day; but
for now you are far enough of meet
ing further harm"
"You are lying to me. You will
loose my grip. l know your kind
you will not be robbed of your sport"
! II will 90 so far Is to prove myself
to YOU" said J. and called out for the
warder who had tended the doors be-
low. bid those tigers be tethered
on a shorter chain" l ordered, land
then go yourself outside into the
circus and help this lady delicately
to the ground"
The word was passed and these
things were done, and l too came
out into the circus and joined the
woman, who stood waiting under the
moonlight. But the others who had
seen these doings were by no means
suited at the change of plan. One
of the great stone valves of the far
Their door opened hurriedly and
man strobe out, armed and flushed.
by all the gods!" he shouted. who
comes between me and my pastime?"
| stepped quietly to the advance.
81 fear, sir" said, that you must
launch your anger against me. BY
accident ! gave that woman sanctu
airy, and l had not heart to toss her
back to your beasts"
His fingers began to snap against
his hilt.
You have como to the wrong mar
ket here with your qualms. am cap
tain here, and my word carries, sub
ject only to Phorenice's nod. Do you
hear that? Do you know too that
l can have you tossed to those striped
gate-keepers of mine for meddling in
here without an invitation?" He
looked at me sharp enough, but saw
plainly that l was stranger. But
perhaps you carry name, my man.
which warrants your impertinence"
| "Deucalion is my poor name" l
said but l cannot expect you will
know it. l am but newly landed here,
sir, and when l left Atlantis some
score of years back, very different
man to you held guard over these
gates" He had his forehead on my
feet by this time. Il had it from the
empress this night that she will to-
morrow make a new sorting of this
Singdom's dignities. Perhaps there
s some recommendation you would
wish me to lay before her in return
Tor your courtesies?"
! my lord said the man. ''if you
wish it, can have a turn with those
.ave-tgers myself now, and you can
look on from behind the walls and
see them tear me-"
'Why tell me what is no news?"
Il wish to remind my lord of his
power; wish to beg of his elem
ency."
You showed your power to these
poor prisoners; but, from what re-