The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-08-14

made fast with a strong chain that
could not be cut; more, her sail and
oars were gone.
Get into it," Knocked a voice: or, at
least, let the lady get in; it will save
US the trouble of carrying her there"
Now Rosamund turned very pale,
while the face of Wulf went red and
white, and he gripped his sword-hilt.
But Goodwin, calm as ever rode for
ward a few PAGES, and said quietly:
VI your courtesy, say what you need
OF US II 1t be money we have none
nothing but our arms and horses.
which L think may cost you dear"
Now the man with the crooked knife
advanced little, accompanied by an
other man, a tall, supple-looking knave,
into whose ear he whispered.
My master says" answered the tall
man, that you have with you that
which is of more value than all the
kings gold-a very fair lady, of whom
some one has urgent need. Give her up
now, and go your way with your arms
and horses, for you are gallant young
she'd"
At this it was the turn of the
brethren to laugh, which both of them
did together.
Give her up" answered Goodwin.
and go our ways dishonored? Aye,
with our breath, but not before Who
has then such urgent need of the Lady
Rosamund?"
Again there was whispering between
the pair.
MY master says" was the answer,
''he thinks that all who see her will
have need of her, since such lovliness
is rare. But if you wish a name. well,
one comes into his mind; the name of
the knight LOZellei"
THE knight Lozelle!" nurmured
Rosamund, turning even paler than be-
fore, as well she might For this Lo-
zelle was powerful man and Essex
born. He owned ships of whose doings
upon the seas and in the East evil tales
were told, and once had sought Rosa
mund's hand in marriage, but being re-
jected, uttered threats for which God
win, as the elder of the twins, had
fought and wounded him. Then he
Vanished-none knew where.
rs Sir Hugh Lozelle here them"
| asked Goodwin, masked like you COM
mon towards? If so, l desire to meet
him, to finish the work began in the
snow last Christmas twelvemonths."
Find that out if you cam" an
Wered the tall man. But Wulf said
speaking low between his clenched
teeth:
Brother, see but one chance. We
must place Rosamund between US and
charge them"
The captain of the band seemed to
read their thoughts, for again he whis-
pered into the ear of his companion,
who called out:
My master says that if you try to
| charge, you will be fools, since we shall
stab and hamstring your horses, which
are too good to waste, and take you
| quite easily as you fall. Come, then,
| yield as you can do without shame,
seeing that there is no escape, and that
| two men. however brave, cannot stand
against a crowd. He gives you one
| minute to surrender"
Now Rosamund spoke for the first
time.
My cousins" she said, IT pray you
not to let me fall living into the hands
of Sir Hugh Lozelle, or of yonder men,
| to be taken to what fate know not.
| Kill me then, and strive to cut your
way through, and live to avenge me-"
The brethren made no answer, only
| they looked at the water and then at
| one another and nodded. 1t was God
| win who spoke again, for now that it
had come to this struggle for life and
their lady's honor, Wulf, whose tongue
| was commonly so ready, had grown
| strangely silent, and fierce-faced Also
Listen, Rosamund, and do not turn
your eyes," said Goodwin. There is but
one chance for you. and, poor as it is,
| you must choose between it and cap
| ture, since we cannot kill you. The
| grey horse you ride is strong and
true. Turn him now, and spur into
the water of Death creek and swim it.
It is broad, but the incoming tide will
! help you, and perchance you will not
| DROWN
Rosamund listened and moved her
head backwards towards the boat.
| Then Wulf spoke-few words and
| sharp:
"Begone, girl! we guard the boat"
She heard and her dark eyes filled
with tears, and her stately head sank
| for a moment almost to the horses
! name.
ooh, my knights! my knights! And
would you die for me? Well, if God
wills so, so it must be. But this I
swear, that if you die, that no man
shall be aught to me who have your
memory, and if you live" And she
looked at them confusedly, then
stopped.
BLESS us, and BECOME" said God
win.
So she blessed them in words low
and holy; then Of a sudden wheeled
round the great grey horse, and strik-
ing the spur into its flank, drove
straight at the deep water. A mo-
ment the stallion hung, then from the
quay-head sprang out wide and clear.
Deep it sank, but not for long, for
presently it's riders head rose above
the water, and regaining the saddle,
from which she had f1oated, Rosamund
sat firm and headed 1t straight for the
distant bank. Now a shout of Won
derment went up from the woman
thieves, for this was deed that they
had never dreamed a girl would dare.
But the brethren laughed as they saw
that the horse swan well, and, leap
ing from their saddles ran forward
a few paces-eight or ten-along the
mole to where ii was narrowest, as
they went tearing the cloaks from
their shoulders, and, since they had
none, throwing them over their left
arms to serve as bucklers The band
cursed sullenly. only their captain gave
an order to his spokesman, who cried
out:
cut them down. and to the boat!
We shall take her before she reaches
shore or browns"
For a moment they wavered. for the
tall twin warriors who barred the way
had eyes that told OF wounds and
death. Then with a rush they came,
scrambling over the rough stones, but
here the causeway was so narrow that
while their strength lasted, two men
were as good as twenty.nor because
Of the mud and water. could they be
got at from either side. So after all,
II was but two to two, and the breth-
rem were the better two Their long