The San Francisco call., 1905-01-22
mund, and her answer came clear and


Bear it as it was last borne in the hall
at Steeple."
Then there was another silence
silence long and deep. Wulf looked
at the white and narrow ribbon OF
the bridge, looked at the black gun
on either side, looked at the blue SKY
above, In which fioated the great glope
of the golden moon. Then he leaned
forward and patted Smoke upon the
neck.
For the third time the trumpets
= blew, and from either end OF that
bridge, two hundred PAGES long, the
knights flashed toward each other IKE
living bolts of steel. The multitude
rose to watch: even Sinan rose. Only
Rosamund sat still, gripping the
cushion with her hands. Hollow rang
the hoofs of the horses upon the
stonework, swifter and swlfter tney
flew, lower and lower bent the knights
upon their saddles. Now they were
near, and now they met. The spears
seemed 10 shiver. the horses to hustle
together on the narrow way and over
hang its edge, then on came the black
horse toward the inner city, and on
sped Smoke toward the further gulf.
',rhey have passed! They have
passed." roared the multitude.
Look! LoZelle approached, reeling In
his saddle, as well he might, for the
helm was torn from his head and blood
poured from his skull where the lance
had grazed 1t.
Goodwin sadly. But, oh, II those laces
Soldiers caught the horse and turned
II.
Another helm," cried Lozelle.
Nay" answered Sinam; "yonder
knight has lost his shield. New lances
that is ALL
c. nd
presently, at the blast Of the trumpets,
again the horses were seen speeding
together over the narrow way. They
met, and 10! Lozelle, torn from his
saddle. but still clinging to the reins,
was flung backward, far backward, TO
fall on the stonework Of the bridge.
Down, too, beneath the mighty shock
went his black horse, a huddled heap,
and lay there struggling.
"Wulf will fall over him." cried
Rosamund. But Smoke did not fall;
the stallion gathered itself together
the moonlight shone so clear that every
watcher saw it-and since stop 1t could
not, lcaped straight over the fallen
black horse-aye, and over the rider
beyond-and sped on in its stride. Then
the black found it's feet again and gall
loped forward to the farther gate and
Lozelle also found his feet and turned
to run
SIdDQ. OtdHu, COWdTQ. ycucu tcA
thousand voices and, hearing them, he
drew his sword and stood.
Within three great strides Wulf
dragged his charger to Its launches,
then wheeled it round.
Charge him!" shouted the multitude,
but he remained seated, as though un
willing to attack a horseless man. Next
he sprang from his saddle and, accom-
panied by the horse Smoke, which fol-
lowed him as a dog follows it's master,
walked slowly toward LoZelle, as he
walked casting away his lance and
drawing the great, cross -hilted sword.
Again the silence fell and through it
rang the cry of Goodwin:
"A Darcy, A Darcy"
a Darcy! A Darcy" came back
Wulf's answer from the bridge and his
voice echoed thin and hollow in the
spaces of the gulf Yet they rejoiced
to hear it. for it told them that he was
sound and strong.
Wulf had no shield and Lozelle had
no helm-the fight was even. They
crouched opposite each other. the
sword flashed aloft in the moonlight;
from far away came the distant clank
of steel. a soft. continual clamor of iron
on iron. a blow fell on Wulf's mail,
who had naught wherewIth to guard
himself, and he staggered back. An
other blow, another and another, and
back. still back he reeled-back to the
edge OF the bridge, back until he struck
against the horse that stood behind
him, and, resting there a moment, as
it seemed, regained his balance.
Then there was change. Look. he
rushed forward, welding the great
blade in both hands. The stroke lit up
on Lozelle's shield and seemed to tear
1t in two, for in that stiffness all could
hear the clang of its upper half as 1t
fell upon the stones. Beneath the
weight of it he staggered, sank to his
knee, gained his feet again, and in his
turn gave back. Yes, now 1t was Lo-
zelle who rocked and reeled. Aye, by
ST. Chad! Lozelle who went down be-
meath that mighty blow which missed
the head but fell upon his shoulder,
and lay there like log, till presently
the moonlight shone upon his mailed
hand stretched upward in a prayer
for mercy. From house top, terrace,
and wall, from soaring gates and bat
Elements, the multitude of the people
of the Assassins gathered on their
side the gulf broke into a roar that
beat up the mountain sides like voice
of thunder. And the roar shaped itself
to these words:
Kill him! kill him! kill him!"
Sinan held UP his hand, and a sud-
den silence fell. Then he, too, screamed
in his thin voice:
xiii him He Is conqueredi"
But the great Wulf only leaned upon
the cross handle of his brand, and
looked at the fallen foe. Presently, he
seemed to speak with him; then Lo-
zeile lifted the blade that lay beside
him and gave it to him in token of
surrender Wulf handled 1t awhile,
shook it on high in triumph, and
whirled 1t about his head till it shone
In the moonlight. Next. with a shout
he cast 1t from him far into the gulf,
where it was seen for a moment, an arc
of cleaning light, and the next was
gone.
Now, taking no more heed of the con-
quered knight, Wulf turned and began
to walk toward his horse.
Scarcely was his back toward him
when Lozelle was on his feet again, a
dagger in his hand.
Look behind your yelled Goodwin.
But the spectators, pleased that the
fight was not yet done, broke into a
roar of cheers Wulf heard and swung
around. AS he faced Lozelle the dag
ger struck him on his breast, and well
must 1t have been for him that his mail
was good. To use his sword he had
neither space nor time. but ere the next
stroke could fall his arms were about
Lozelle and the fight for life began.
To and fro they reeled and staggered.
whirling round and round till none of