Evening star., 1905-11-06

lains. would ye raise hands against thoee
who have befriended you! All, the butcher
has struck him! He is down! They stamp mp
gown and wave It in the air. See now.
how the flames lick up the walls! Are
there none left to rally round us7 With
"Oh, for my company" crieo Sir Nigel.
But where is Ford. Alleyne?"
He Is foully murdered, my fair ioro.
THE saints receive him! May he rest
in peacei But here come some at last who
may give us counsel, for amid these pas
sages it is i'll to stir without guide"
Bohemian knight came rushing down the
steps, the latter bleeding from SLASH
across his forehead.
"All is lost!' he cried. The castle is
taken and on fire. the seneschal Is slain ana
there Is naught left for us
ION the contrary" quoth Sir Nigel, there
Is much left to us. for there is very hon
orable contention before us, and a fair lady
for whom to give our lives. There are
many ways in which a man might die, but
none better than this"
You can tell us, Godfrey said Du Cues
clin to the French squire "how came these
men into the castle. and what succors can
we count upon? By st. Ives! II we come
not quickly to some counsel we shall be
burned like young rocks in a nest
The squire, q dark, slender stripping, spoke
firmly and quickly, as one who was trained
to swift action.
There is passage under the earth into
the CASTLE" said he. "and through 1t some
OF the Jacks made their way. casting open
the gates for the others. They have had
help from within the walls, and the men-at-
arms were heavy with wine: they must have
been slain in their beds for these devils
crept from room to room with soft step
and ready knife. Sir Amory the Hospitaler
was struck down with an ak he rushed
before us from his sleeping chamber Save
only ourselves, l do not think that there
any left alive
What then. would YOU counsel?"
That we make for the keep. 1t Is un-
used, save in time of war, and the key
hangs from my poor lord and masters
belt -
There are two keys there
ut is the larger. Once there, we might
hold the narrow stair; and at least, as the
be longer ere they could burn them. Could
we but carry the lady across the bailey. all
might be we'll with u.s.
Nay: the lady hath seen something of
the work of war;" said Tiphaine, coming
forth. as white, as grave, and unmoved
ever. Il would not be hamper to you.
my dear spouse and gallant friend. Rest
assured of this, that If all else fail / have
always safeguard here"-drawing a small
silver-hilted poniard from her bosom
(which sets me beyond the fear Of these
vile and blood-stained wretches.'
"Tiphaine,'' cried Du Guescin, Il have
always loved you; and now. by Our Lady of
Rennes! love you more than ever. Did I
not know that your hand will be as ready
as your words. l would myself turn my
last blow upon you, ere you should fall into
their hands. Lead on, Godfrey! A new
golden pyx will shine in the minister of Di-
nan If we come safely through with it."
The attention of the insurgents had been
drawn away from murder to plunder, and
all over the castle might be heard their
cries and whoops of delight they dragged
forth the rich tapestries, the silver fagons.
and the carved furniture. Down in the
court yard half-clad wretches, their bare
limbs all mottled with blood stains. strutted
about with plumed helmets upon their
heads, or with the Lady Rochefort's silken
gowns girt round their loins and trailing
on the ground behind them. Casks of
choice wine had been rolled out from the
cellars. and starving peasants squatted,
with goblet in hand. draining off vintages
which De Rochefort had set aside for noble
and royal guests. Others. with slabs of
bacon and joints of dried meat upon the
ends of their pixies, held them up to the
blaze or tore a them ravenousy with their
teeth. Yet all order had not been lost
among them for some hundreds of the bet
ter armed stood together in d silent group,
leaning upon their rude weapons and look
ing up at the fire, which had spread so rap
idly as to involve one whole side of the
castle. Already Alleyne could hear the
cracking and roaring of the flames, while
the air was heavy with heat and full of the
pungent whiff of burning wood.
(To be continued tomorrow