The Grit-advocate., 1904-07-29

to cut away the blood-st.fe- lose.
Darkness closed around parFaTfr.
again, darkness shot with zlgzar light
nings Of pain, and throbbins win gs-.-
full mOans
She came TO herself To find -ha;
soldiers were lifting her no -a the
horseman. where he sat again .a his
saddle. She recognized tho square
ness Of his shoulders; and he grs-,
the gentleness of his touch as he
slipped his free arm arouug he and
drew her carefully into place, r-aing
Of his stalwart body support .a- her
weakness. No strength wa in Der 10
struggle against him; only ae- wide
bright eyes sought his, with he r-gr
Of a SHARED bird.
Meeting the look and understanding
a small part OF its Question. he said in
a reassuring word in his plcasar- low.
pitched voice: Be of good cheer,
yOunsling; there is no thouzst . eat
ing you. will bring you 10 a up Of
wine before moonrise, if you hold
fast
1t is doubtful if me girl SD u-rh as
heard him. Her eyes were 7.sslLg
from feature to feature Of his faea. as
the stars revealed it above Her-fr0m
the broad. comely brow to he SQUARE
young chin, from the cleau-cr- fine
tempered mouth to the clear. true
eyes. One by one she noted them.
and shade by shade her straineE look
of fear relaxed. With eyes still turn
ed up toward his face, her Ids Lroop-
ed and fell; and her head SAM upon
his breast and lay there, in the peace
Of perfect faith.
Tap-tap-tap-tap like watar drip
ping slowly. Drop by drop he -ound
filtered through the thick wrappings
Of Randalin's slumber, till she knew
it for the beat of horses hoofs. and
stirred and opened her eyes
The silver simmer of starlight fall
ing through purple deeps had given
way to the ruddy glare OF a camp
fire, and she was lying just beyond
its heat. cloakwrapped, on a bed OF
leaves. Above her, interlacing beech
boughs made an arching roof under
which the shadows clustered as swal-
lows under caves. Within the sylvan
alcove. some four-score battle-stained
warriors were taking their ease after
a hard day. Through the fog Of her
drowsiness Randalin recognized them
slowly. Yonder was the EngLishman
who had found her in the bushes.
Beyond him, across the frs. the SOL
diers who had lifted her up to the
horseman. Here. just in front OF
her, was tie leader himself. Her
gaze settled upon him dreamily.
He had finished his meal. ii meal
it could be called, and was making
some attempt at toilet His caDtive's
eyes were not the only ones upon him,
and he was laughing little at the
comments his performance drew forth
from three old cnihts lounging near
him.
These are soft days, comrades. The
last time followed the old chief, Of
honored memory, we held our war
council standing knee-deep in a fen.
We had neither eaten nor drank lot
two days, and three days blood was
on our hands"
The young chief took it with care
less good humor.
When you leave off eating, in men,
ory of that brave time, | will leave off
washing" he returned. Il tell you,
nothing but a warriors life becomes
ethel-born men, nor sluggishness nor
junketings, but day under fire and
nights among the Wise Men OF
council. BY Saint Mary. feel that
I have never lived before. One week
at the heels of Edmund Ironside is
worth a lifetime under the banner OF
any other king
A pause met his warmth somewhat
coudly; and the warrior who broke the
silence lowered his voice to do it.
ITO he continued.D