The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-07-15

AMATEUR on uOrScDdck, anu when LIE
steed unexpectedly plunged forward
he relinQuished the reins and grasped
the name. For one brief moment the
attention Of the troop was diverted
toward the unexplained antics Of the
maddened horse and the imminent
overthrow of its rider. II it had been
the horse of Armstrong that had be-
gun these dancings, his guards would
have been instantly on the alert for
an attempted escape, but at the very
moment their eyes should have been
on the Scot their attention was with
drawn. Armstrong did not laugh, but,
thrusting back his knife, whipped out
his sword and struck De Courcy's
horse twice with the broad Of 1t. His
own steed leaped forward under the
prick of the spur, and before the colo
mel could give a word of command the
two had disappeared in the fog ahead.
Even then the colonel. who was the
only man that had his wits about him.
did not think there was the least
chance Of escape, for he heard the
troop coming toward him, and Arm
strong must run directly into it. He
rose in his stirrups to give the alarm
to those ahead, when all heard ring
ing shout: Charge. cavaliers! God
save the king! Charger
Out Of the fog came a scattering
fire. then volley. Two horses and
Vvhi10 tho 0fhor
troopers hastily unslung their carbines
and fired down the street without wait
ing for the word Of command.
r"Stop, you fools" yelled the colonel.
You are shooting your own men,"
Then to the oncomers he rOared like
warning, which was drowned in anoth.
er volley. The Lichfield men were not
to be taken in, even if they had heard
the warning. With their own eyes
they had seen two cavaliers burst upon
them out of the fog with strident cry
for the king. De Courcy, coming first,
they concentrated upon him, and he
went down before them. Armstrong,
swinging his sword, shifting right and
left. believing like fiend in true cav
alier style. a very Prince Rupert come
again, dashed at the weakest spot. and
his impetuosity carried all before him.
"Never mind him." cried the leader
as some would have pursued. Fire.
and break their CHARGE" And fire they
did right stoutly until maddened Of
fcer, with a bravery that scorned the
bullets around him, galloped along
their front, waving his sword and COM
handing them to stop.
"You are killing your own men"
There are no royalists. but an interfer-
ing fool Of q Frenchman ana an escaped
Scot. Back to Lchfeldw Neverthe-
less a battle il not quelled at a word,
and the brave colonel pressed through
among them and galloped In pursuit Of
his late prisoner.
Once clear Of the clash Armstrong
was not sparing of horse that belong
ed to some one else. At great risk to
his neck he raced through the blind
fog, sword in hand, ready for further
opposition should he meet it. He emerg-
ed from the fog with a suddenness that
startled him. The sun had set, and
there, barely a mile away. stood out
against the darkening sky the great
red bulk Of the cathedral with its war
broken towers and the little town hud
died at It's feet. At the same moment
be became aware that some one was
after him, and again he
dug the cruel spurs into the laboring
horse
A glance over his shoulder showed
him the colonel breaking through the
bank of fog, and he thought of turning
and fighting him on the run, but the
sound Of firing had ceased, and he
knew the colonel would prove a stouter
combatant than the Frenchman. so he
hurried on. Aside from this, Lichfield
had been reused by the sound of the
guns, and he saw the long, narrow
street that lay between him ard the
becoming alive with pikemen
and knew he would have his work cut
out for him if he was to get safely
through the town. AS soon as he came
"AlAAA Ce1ASAOI uc SuOutcu W
"Barricade the street! The king is
upon us. have just escaped. Our
men are on the retreat. Defend the
town to the south. Barricade! Barri-
cadev' Thus he clattered through
Lchfeld, shouting.
The soldiers began the running out of
carts and whatever other Instructions
they could lay their hands upon to
make the way difficult for the oncom-
ing colonel, who swore as loudly at
their stupidity as If he were the kings
own.
What are you about, you accused
Don't you know a kings
man when you see one? Leave that
rubbish and follow me to the cathe-
dral."
Armstrong; horse, nearly done, stag
gered over the bridge and up the slight
incline that led to the cathedral pre-
cincts. Across the gounds surrounding
the. church had been raised a great
earthwork, and the battered west front