The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-04-03
CHAPTER VI-Continued.

Ralph accordingly was brought in
,o+uaen two men-at-arms, his hands
hound behind him.
"Welcome to Sturmere!" said the
knight.
Ralph, looking him impassively in
the face. made slight bow.
"Ah, by my faith, most courtly.
We have a high spirit. We trust your
reverence is not much Inconvenience
bv this detour. ~
"If it pleases you to play the buf-
ioon. nv good SIR" answered Ralph,
81 am in your power"
at grieves me much to displease you.
Rut a poor knight must do his humble
duty. We are under strict orders to
onestion such as you"
"Orders from whom? Produce your
orders. and l will answer any questions
YOU choose to put
"Did you not wear yesterday differ
emf dress from this in which l have
now the honor to see your
81 did"
"The ridiculous dress of the turbu-
lent fellows who call themselves poor
prests?'
Ralph made a gesture of assent.
eve have the dress here" said
Nicholas. "We found it in his wal
let"
"Ah!" cried the knight. "Then it
was your purpose to wear it again? L
was in hopes that you had repented of
YOUR folly. l will ask next on what
reasonable errand you were bound?"
81 was bound on no reasonable err
rand. But l deny your right to ques-
ton me-"
"Iwill answer for my right" laughed
the knight, looking round to catch the
answering smiles of his retainers. do
YOU not know that you poor priests, as
you call yourselves, are under inter-
dict?"
81 know the terms of the interdict,
said Ralph coldly. "They give you
no right to seize me on the kings high
way, or bring me here for this mockery
of examination.
"You will find it no mockery, my
malapert sir, if your answers do not
satisfy me. With what purpose did
you travel?'
"show me your authoity to put the
question:"
Goa, no! we stand on nice terms of
law, do WEI"
eve do" said Ralph.
The knight laughed mockingly.
"My authority is that l have you here,
and will keep you here till you account
for yourself in a satisfactory manner. !"
"That is authority undispntable. J."
81 am glad your reverence admits SO
much. Your reverence may be in
more benign temper few days hence.
Meantime, we will consign you to such
poor accommodations as our humble
castle can furnish"
as this not mean revenge for a
knight of your provost" asked Ralph,
in Contemptuous tone. 81 will not
handy words with you. Are you afraid
to meet me man to MANI"
"Man to man. braggart!" Sir Rich
ards face was cont Jrted for an instant
with passion.
Remember, l am not your prisoner.
Will you dare to meet me alone, with
out your rabble to save you from con-
sequences beyond your own strength to
avert?'
The knight gave coarse, uneasy
laugh. "The priest is wondrous val
liant. Nay, nay, we have another way
OF bringing such insolent clerks to Or
der. Nicholas, conduct his reverence
to his lodgings"
Nicholas stared in mute inquiry,
pointing to the prisoner legs.
Have you not tongue, dolt?'
shouted the knight.
"Shall we bind his legs?" asked
Nicholas, sulkily.
NO; We will leave him the use of
his legs. He may walk out if he can"
But" began Nicholas.
What means this dog by his butts?
Will you take him away?"
Ralph followed his conductor with
out word. A mad impulse to de-
nounce the brutal tyrant, to spring at
MN and tear him with his teeth.
mounted for moment to his brain;
but he was still sufficiently master OF
himself to keep it down. If all hope
was gone, if he must bear whatever
came, better bear it with foritude and
dignity.
The lodging to which he was con-
quoted was the dungeon of the castle, a
camp ground floor, or cellar, on a level
with the moat.
Ralph walked pace into the dark