The Washington times., 1903-03-08
THE FEATS OF MUCHSLASH.
By JOHN WALKER HARRINGTON.

l shall not surrender. and 7 shall also
protect you"
The duke and Muchslash were driven
from the battIements by showers OF
sticks and stones and arrows. The Blue
Regiment Of Royal Archers took its
place behind a wood and shot thousands
OF shafts tipped with flame The royal
cannon. which we're Of wood. bound with
hoops Of steel, We're fired every minute.
and. in spite of the efforts of the garri-
son, the army OF the King Of Freakland
pressed nearer and nearer to the walls
The supply OF food became so low that
the duke was in despair. The roast
fowls and the wines which had been in
the castle in such abundant store were
no more. and the garrison. which had
lived on cake. was reduced to bread.
and then the cry went through the ducaI
kitchen, There IS no flour,
The ammunition OF the army of the
Duke Of Winchester became exhausted.
The stones which could be spared from
the walls we're thrown from the battle
ments. and all the silverware IN the cas-
tie, 10 say nothing OF the pewter spoons
and a lead statue Of King Lud. were
melted into cannon balls and bullets
The furniture. bearing the ducal crest.
was split into arrows The army of the
King Of Freakland increased in size and
daring. The duke called ali his captains
to council OF war. and explained to them
that further resistance was useless.
1t is foolish" said one. Ito keep this
Ambassador Muchslash. All OF us will
lose our lives. and to no purpose. Let
us give him up 10 the King and save
ourselves and the castle"
L hesitate to do so, replied the Duke.
FOR 1 account him worthy of kinder
treatment"
His remarks were drowned by a mighty
shout outside the walls. and the violent
knocking Of battering rams against the
The Globe Of calcasr' cried the be-
siegers st Galba and the Globe Of
Calcast Down with Muchslash''
IF this Muchslash. whom you so warm
ly champion" said the Chief Captain of
the Ducal Horse, lis indeed such won
derful person. why not set him 10 work
TO find the globe?'
"A bright idea" exclaimed the Duke
He sent a messenger TO find the tailor.
who in the midst Of all the din, was
busily engaged in smoking a long pipe.
MuchsIash. when he was told that he
had the choice of finding the missing
Globe OF of being handed over TO the
enemy. said that he was driven TO sheer
desperation
Al his request the Duke called for all
the retainers of the castle and had them
pass Muchslash one at time The
Black Dwarf. the Court Jester. the Major
Dor1o. all the serfs and men alarms
were carefully watched by the shrewd
and ancient tailor. but in none OF their
faces did he observe signs OF guilt.
There are certainly two more per
sons. l saw them today in the courtyard
Of the CASTLE" cried Muchslash, yet
see no trace OF them now
Six mems alarms were sent 10 make
thorough search of the building, and
finally in the wine vaults were 1ound
two ninble knaves known as the Hand
sprinR Twins. Balancing on their hands
and their feet. and smiling the while as
though life were a joke. the knaves came
into the presence of their Duke
Have YOU" asked the shrewd Much
slash. "seen anything Of the Globe OF
/ Calcas. which until recently was in the
/ treasury of the King, who is now paying
such delicate attention to the barbican?'
/ The Handspring Twins turned over
several times in the air, and then said
that they had never heard OF the GLOBE
for which Muchslash had so earnestly IN
quired.
| There was. however. something In the
expression OF the knaves which aroused
| the suspicious of the tailor.
Taking from his girdle the magic
shears. Muchslash whirled them thrice
about his head. and then, before the as
eembIed spectators. slashed the Hand
snrIns Twins in three directions AT the
moment when Muchslash gave them TINS
seemingly mortal wound the acrooats
vrere bent over with their backs 10 eacn
and their hands on the floor. When the
cut occurred their bodies fell into three
nieces auiece Gathering up the rag
ments. Muchslash calmly put the aero
bats together again. so that they stood
upright before the world. and behold! on
the floor at their feet were the two halves
Of a gigantic globe The Globe OF CAL
cas- cried the astonished spectators. as
the tailor joined the two halves, while
the Handspring Twins. furious that the
tailor had discovered their theft. leaped
upon the globe and tried in vain 70 roll
| II from the room.
The sphere proved indeed to be the
| lost Globe OF Calcas. which had for more