The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-08-28
IN PERLOUSWAYS KNIGHT GRANTS UuARFSHON

As L seemed to be alone, for could
hear no one outside. I sat down on one
OF the sacks of barley to rest / must
have been lost IN thought, for did not
hear the door open; but, upon looking
up suddenly. saw a long-robed figure
standing on the threshold. 1t was Fray
Ignominious.
l was taken 50 completely by sur
prise that I did not even rise, but sat
there starting at him. For full min
ute. it seemed. he stood there barring
the doorway He had crossed himself
when he first saw me, and muttered
something In Latin. Recovering my
self. I was about to dash past him and
out of the door. when from somewhere
about his clothes he drew a knife and
made a savage assault upon me.
Now. I have always believed that a
man should fight with his own weap-
ons when It is possible for him to do
so. and as craft and cunning was my
monks weapons. and his robe his shield,
he, should have been content with these,
and left the knife for those given to
it's use a monk makes a poor soldier,
for fighting Is not his business, and
certainly It is unbecoming in him 70
take the role Of an assassin.
Had he been content 10 leave violence
to others, and had not taken too much
upon himself, doubtless he would have
lived many years to come, and might
in time have reformed from evil ways
and become a useful zealot of the
church. As II was, without any plot
ting or generalization on my part, he
met death in a most singular manner,
as will be seen hereafter.
Seeing the raised knife. and being
myself unarmed, / defended myself from
his murderous assault as best 1 could.
AS he was about to strike. grasping
him by the wrist, l threw up his arm,
and at the same time swung my left
foot around with such force that I
quite took him off his feet, causing him
10 fall upon the pavement with such
suddenness and force that his breath
seemed to have been knocked out of
bis body.
AS 1 looked at him. lying at my feet.
was afraid that he would never
breathe again. I had not meant to kill
him. and l did not want his blood upon
my conscience.
II would have been difficult for me
to have explained the accident, had
been compelled to; and I doubted II any
explanations l could make would be ac-
quiry concerning the matter. 1 thought
il best not to be found where l was.
When / emerged from the storeroom.
which l very soon did, I wore the cowl
Of q monk And for the monk who
had lost his senses left a badly fit
ting coat which at one time had belonged
to a Spanish gentleman. and had been
borrowed without so much as asking
the consent OF the owner
Under cover of my disguise 1 found
no difficulty IN making my way from
the building, and ia cassing clong the
court unmolested. party OF troopers
were going away and I followed them
IN truth, no one paid any attention 10
me whatever.
A winding road led down from the
fortress. At the foot OF the hill was
timber; here the ground was broken. as
ut some former time trenches had been
dug and breastworks thrown up I had
gone the greater part Of tho distance
down the slope: the trees were Just
ahead OF me, and l was cougratulating
myself on my escape. wheE l heard q
cry behind. Instinctively 1 turned M
head. ! saw a Mexican without hat,
apparently half dressed, rush past the
sentinels.
How II happened, 1 could never tell
exactly. IL all occurred in a very short
time. The Mexican was shouting and
gesticulating IN the most frantic way,
as II he were quite bereft OF his reason:
and indeed no must have been TO dls-e-
gard the challenge of the scntinels as
he did. They shouted TO him 10 stop.
but he appeared not to hear them
He was shouting and motioning to
some one ahead OF me. so II seemed.
Again the guard called for him 70 stop.
and I saw them level their muskcts:
but he kept on, Jumping upon the para
pet. Then two shots in quick succession
rang out upon the air; he threw up his
hands. fell headlong over the parapet
and rolled down the embankment. As
he fell saw that ne wore gentIeman's
dress coat. could not be mistaken as
TO the coat
For a moment 1 stood paralyzed. not
50 much from the sight OF such a tragic
death. Is from tho fact that I realized
that the unfOrtunte man was Fray Ig-
nominious. Then. becoming conscious OF
my own danger, 1 hurried on, gaining
the shelter Of the trees
From a feeling Of generation for the
robes I wore. however in suited they
may have been 10 him who wore them
before me. / reverently made the sign
Of the cross as ] had so often seen Il
untary act: and yet. done. ] believe with
q feeling Of sincerity and thankkfulness
for my escape.