The Glenwood post., 1904-07-30

to cut away the blood-stiffened hose
Darkness closed around Randalin
again, darkness shot with Zigzag light
nings of pain, and throbbing with pitt
full means.
She came to herself to find that
soldiers were lifting her up to the
horseman. where he sat again in his
saddle. She recognized the square
ness of his shoulders; and she knew
the gentleness of his touch as he
slipped his free arm around her and
drew her carefully into place. making
of his stalwart body support for her
weakness. No strength was in her to
struggle against him; only her wide
bright eyes sought his, with the terror
of a shared bird.
Meeting the look and understanding
small part of its question, he said in
a reassuring word in his pleasant low
pitched voice: BE of good cheer.
younglins; there is no thought of eat
ing you. | will bring you to cup of
wine before moonrise, if you hold
fast"
1t is doubtful if The girl so much as
heard him. Her eyes were passing
from feature to feature of his face, as
the stars revealed it above her-from
the broad. comely brow to the square
young chin, from the clean-cut fine
tempered mouth to the clear, true
eyes. One by one she noted them.
and shade by shade her strained look
of fear relaxed. With eyes still turn
ed up toward his face, her lids droop-
ed and fell: and her head sank upon
his breast and lay there, in the peace
of perfect faith.
Tap-tap-tap-tap, like water drip
ping slowly Drop by drop the sound
Uttered 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, cloak-wrapped, 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
.,f
| her, was TIE leader himself. Her
| gaze settled upon him dreamily.
He had finished his meal, If meal
| it could be called and was making
some attempt at toilet. His captive'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 fen.
We had neither eaten nor drank for
| 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 mem
ory of that brave time, will leave on
washing" he returned 81 tell you,
nothing but warriors life becomes
| ethel-born men, nor sluggishness nor
iunketings, but day under fire and
nights among the Wise Men OF
council BY Saint Mary, | feel that
| have never lived before! One week
at the heels of Edmund lronside is
worth lifetime under the banner OF
any other king"
A pause met his warmth somewhat
coudly; and the warrior who broke tho
silence lowered his voice to do it.
(To be continued)