Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-08-03

II was evident that his mind had not
been Inactive.
what excuse could we make TO
Hugo. our Prince?" he said ut last.
Scarcely did he believe us the last
time. And on this occasion we have
is direct orders"
Are we not still Enyoys?" Iuericd
Boris. And as ENJOYS OF a great
principally like Piassenburg-repre-
sentatlves of the most noble Prince
ana Princess In this Empire. should we
not ride with retinue due and fitting?
That Is not taking the Palace Guard
into battle. 1t Is only airordIng pro.
lection TO their ESceIIencIes' repre-.
scntatiycs."
That sounds well enough" answer.
ed Boris doubtfully. but will II stand
probation. think you. when Hugo
scowls at us from under his brows?"
Well" said Jorlan. ''at ali events.
there is always our Helene. think
VIC MAY risk IT,"
TRUE" mcdiia,cd Boris. you say
VOL There !s always Helene. The
Little Playmate will not let our nccks
be stretched. Not at least for sue
eouring n P.1ccss In Distress
In short quarter OF an hour the
drums OF tho Piasscnburg Palace
Guard mad beaten to arms. From gate
to gate the iish, Eca.wind had borne
the cheerful trumpet call. and when
Joan returned. hcartickS and downcas,.
with half dozen more mouidy rascais.
smelling OF muck.rakcs and damp
stable straw. she found before her
moro than half the horHcmcn of Pias.
scnburg armed capable in FURNISHED
steel. whcrcat she could only look
at Boris In aStonIshmcnt
"Sour HishncHs." Aaid that captain.
Eaiuting Eravciy. I'VE arc only able to
accompany you aN ENJOYS Estraordin.
AIRY OF the Prince and Princess OF Pias-
scnburs. But as such ". feel II our
duty In order properly to support our
state To take with US suitable attend.
ancn." --a..-
Before Joan could reply messenger
came squirting up the long. narrow
streets. Joan took the letter and
opened II with n jerk.
From High Captain Won oracln 10
the Princess Joan.
Come with all speed. II you would
be In time. We are hard bcsc;. The
enemy are all about us. Prince Con
rad has ordered charge"
The face of the woman whItcncd
as she read. bu, Mt the same moment
the fingers OF Joan Of the Sword Hand
frightened upon the hilt. She read the
letter aloud. There was no comment.
Boris cried an order. Iorian dropped
to tho rear. and the rctlnuc OF the En-.
voys Extraordinary swung out on the
road towards the great battle.
As Joan and the warcaptainH of
PlRsEcnburg came nearer they heard
n low growing roar like the distant
sound of the breakers on the outer
shore nj Isle Rugcn. It rose and fell
IA the ftfui wind bore |, towards
them. but Il never entirely ceased.
They dashed through the fords OF
the ALA. the three hundred lances Of
the Piasssuburs Guard Gathering
eagerly behind them. Joan led. on n
black horse which Conrad had given
her. The two war.cap,ains with one
mind set their steel caps more firmly
on their heads.
They came nearer. A few wrcaths
Of smoke. hanging over the yet distant
field. told where Russ and Tcuton met
in battle array. a solemn. slumbcrous
revcrbcration heard at intervals split
the dull general roar apart. II was
the new cannon which had come from
the Margraf George TO help beat back
the common foe. Then they began 10
pass iimpinE men hastinE cityward.
with fleeing and panic.strickcn wrstch-
es who looked over their shoulders as
IL they saw steel flashing at their
backs.
"KernsbcrE!" cried Joan. her sword
high in the air. as she set spurs in her
black stallion and swept onward n
good twenty yards before the rush of
the horsemen of Plasscnburg.
Joan's quick glance about her for
Conrad told her nothing of his where.
abouts. But the two war.captains.
more experienced. perceived that the
Muscovites were already everywhere
victorious. Their wings outflanked
and ovcrlapped the slender array of
CORTLAND. Only about the cannon and
on the far right did any seem to be
making a stand.
There" cried Jorian, COUGHING his
lance. there by the cannon is where
we will get our bellyful of fighting"
He pointed where. amid a confusion
of fighting men. wounded and strug
Cling horses. and the great black tubes
of the MarErafs cannon. they saw the
sturdy form of Werner Won Orseln.
grown larger through the smoke and
dusty smother. bestriding the body of
a fallen knight. He fought as one
fights swarm of angry bees. striking
every way with desperate courage
The charging squadrons of Plassen
burr divided to rass right and left OF