Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-14
THE WHITE COMPANY
BY A. CONAN DOYLE.

tie brown cliff seemed from above to reach
little more than half way down 1t. Beyond
stretched the rugged rock. wet and shin
ing. with green tuft here and there
thrusting out from 1t. but little sign of
ridge or foothoid. Far below the jagged
points of the powders bristled up, dark
and menacing. Northbury tugged thrice
with all his strength upon the cord and
then lowered himself over the edge. while a
hundred anxious faces peered over at him
as he slowly clambered downward to the
end of the rope. Twice he stretched out
his foot, and twice he failed to reach the
point at which he aimed. but even as he
swung himself for a third effort stone
from sling buzzed like wasp from amid
the rocks and struck him full upon the side
Of his head. His grasp relaxed, his feet
slipped, and In an instant he was crushed
and mangled corpse upon the sharp ridges
beneath him.
leading Sir Nigel aside, II pray you, my
dear lord, that you will give my humble
service to the Lady Maude, and say to her
that I was ever her true servant and most
unworthy cavalier"
The old knight said no word but he put
a hand on either shoulder. and kissed his
squire, with the tears shining In his eyes.
Alleyne sprang TO the rope, and Siding
swiftly down. soon found himself at its ex-
tremity. From above 1t seemed as though
rope and cliff were well-nigh touching, but
now, when swinging a hundred feet down,
the squire found that he could scarce reach
1t was as smooth as glass, with no resting
place where a mouse could stand Some
three feet lower, however his eye lighted
upon q long jagged crack which slanted
downward, and this he must reach II he
would save not only his own poor iife but
that OF the eight score men above MIN.
Yet it were madness to spring Tor that
narrow slit with naught but the wet, smooth
rock to cling to. He swung for a moment.
full of thought, and even as he hung there
another of the hellish stones sung through
his curs, and struck chip from the race
of the cliff. Up he clambered a few feet,
drew I'D the loose end after him. unslung
his belt held on with knee and with elbow
while he spliced the long, tough leathern
belt to the end of the cord: then lowering
himself as far as he could go, he swung
backward and forward until his hand
reached the crack, when he left the rope
and chung to the face of the cliff Another
stone struck him on the side, and ne hearo
q sound like breaking stick, with keen
stabbing pain which shot through his chest.
Yet 1t was no time now to think or pain
or ache There was his lord and his eight
score comrades, and they must be plucked
from the jaws Of death. On he clambered,
with his hand shutting down the long Stop
ing crack, sometimes bearing all his weight
on his arms, at others finding some small
shelf or tuft on which to rest his foot.
Would he never pass over that fifty feet?
He dared not look down, and could but
grope slowly onward, his face to the cliff,
his fingers clutching, his feet scraping and
and nothing of that face of rock remained
forever stamped upon his memory. At last,
however his foot came upon broad rest
ng-place and he ventured to cast glance
downward Thank God! he had reached the
highest of those fatal pinnacles upon which
his comrade had fallen. Quickly now he
sprang from rock to rock until his feet
were on the ground, and he had his hand
stretched out for the horses rein. when a
sling-stone struck him on the head, and he
dropped senseless upon the ground. e., go
An evil blow 1t was for Alleyne, but
worse one still for him who struck it. The
Spanish singer, seeing the youth lie slain,
and judging from his dress that he was no
common man, rushed forward to plumber
him. knowing well that the bowmen above
him had expended their last SHAFT. he was
still three PAGES, however, from his victims
side when John upon the cliff above plucked
up a huge bowlder, and, poising 1t for an
instant, dropped 1t with fatal aim upon the
singer beneath him. 1t struck upon his
shoulder. and hurled him, crushed and
screaming, to the ground. while Alleyne.
recalled to his senses by these shrill cries
in his very ear, staggered on TO his feet,
and gazed wildly about him. His eyes
fell upon the horses, grazing upon the
scanty pasture, and in an instant all mad
come back to him-his mission, his COM
rades, the need for haste. He was dizzy.
sick, faint, but he must not die, and he
must not larry, for his life meant many
lives that day. In an instant he was IN ms
saddle and squirting down the valley. Loud
rang the swift Charger Wy Ct tpSh
and reef while the fire flew from the stroke
of IRON and the loose stones showered up
behind him. But his head was Whlriins
round, the blood was gushing from his brow,
his temple, his mouth. Even keener and
sharper was the deadly pain which shot IKE
a red-hot arrow through his side. He felt
that his eye was glazing, his senses sllp-'
ping from him. his grasp upon the reins
relaxing Then with one mighty effort he
called up all his strength for single min
ute. STOPPING down. he loosened the stirrup
straps, bound his knees tightly to his saddle
flaps, twisted his hands in the bride, and
then, putting the gallant horses head for
the mountain path. he dashed the spurs In
and fell forward fainting, with his face
buried in the coarse, black name.
Little could he ever remember of that
wild ride. Half conscious, but ever with
the thought beating in his mind, he
goaded the horse onward. rushing swiftly
along the edges of black abysSes. Dim
memories he had of beetling cliffs, of
group of huts with wondering faces at the
doors of foaming, Gathering water and of
a bristle of mountain beeches. Once, ere
he had ridden far he heard behind him
three deep. suilen shouts, which told him
that his comrades had set their faces to
the foe once more. Then all was blank
until he woke to find kindly blue English
eyes peering down upon him and to hear
the blessed sound of his country's speech
They were but a foraging party-a hum
bred archers and as many men-at-arms-
but their leader was SIR Hugh Calyerley
and he was not man to bide idle when
good blows We're to be had not three leagues
from him. A scout was sent flying with a
message to the camp, and Sir Hugh, with
his 200 men, Numbered off to the rescue.
With them went Alleyne, still bound to his
saddle, still dripping with blood and
swooning and recovering and swooning once
again. On they rode, and on, until, at
last, topping a ridge, they looked down
upon the fateful valley. Alas. and alasl
for the sight that met their eyes.
There, beneath them was the blood-b bath
ed HILL and from the highest pinnacle there
Haunted the yellow and white banner with
the lions and the towers of the royal house
of Castle. Up the long slope rushed ranks
and ranks of men-exultant shouting, with
waving pennons and brandshed arms Over
the whole summit were dense throngs OF
knights, with no enemy that could be seen
to face them, save only that at one corner
of the plateau an eddy and swirl amid the
crowded mass seemed to show that all re-
sistance was not yet at an end. At the
sight a deep groan of rage and of despair
went UP from the baffied rescuers, and
squirting on their horses. they cIattered
down the long and winding path which led
to the valley beneath.
But they were too late TO avenge as they
had been too late to save. Long ere they
could gain the level ground the Spaniards,
seeing them riding swiftly amid the rocks,