Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1906-08-17

him .snBf 81 fare"
'Bhb ing air lord. how can we hope to
rear'h 6liU dorscnt asked Norbury.
y c1inHd go round to them, FOR they
would Do ppoh ye ere ~ could could come
10 themi Think ye that ~ have heart
enough 70 Chamber down this ciinf"
vHad we but n rope"
There IL one here. II h but one hun
Nred. feet long, and FOR the rest ye must
trust to God and 10 your fingers. Can
YOU Try II, Alleynef'
With all my heart, my dear lord, but
how can I leave you In such a straitT'
Nay, Il is to serve me that ye go. And
you, NorbuFyF
The silent squire said nothing. but he
took up the rope, and, having examined
II, be tied one end firmly round project
ing rock. Then he cast on his breast
plate, thigh pieces, and greaves, while Al
leyne followed his example.
Tel Chand0s, or Calverley, or Knolles
should the prince have gone forward.
cried Sir Nigel. Now may God speed
ye, for ye are brave and worthy men,"
IL was, Indeed, q task which might make
the heart OF the brayest sink within him.
The thin cord dangling down the face
OF the brown clin seemed from above 10
reach little more than halfway down II.
Beyond stretched the rugged rock. wet and
shining, with a green tuft here and there
thrusting out from t. but little sign Of
ridge or fOothod. Far below the jagged
points OF the boulders bristed up, dark
and menncing. Norbury tugged thrice
with all his strength upon the cord, and
then lowered himself over the edge, while
hundred anxious faces peercd over at
him az he slowly clnmbered downwards 10
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 n third effort a stone
from a sling buzzed like a 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 be was
crushed and mangled corpse upon the
sharp ridges beneath him.
IF have no better fortune" said Al
leyne, leading Sir Nigel aside. Il pray
you, my dear lord, that you viii give my
humble service to the Lady Maude, and say
to her that was ever her true servant
and most unworthy cavalier"
The old knight said no word, but he put
hand on either shoulder, and kissed his
squire, with the tears shining IN his eyes.
Alleyne sprang to the rope. aud sliding
swiftly down, soon found himself at its
extremity. From above 1t seemed as
though rope and cliff were well-nigh touch
ing, but now, when swinging a hundred feet
down, the squire found that he could scarce
reach the face of the rock with ais foot
and that It was as smooth as glass, with
no restlng-place where a mouse could
stand. Some three feet lower, however,
his eye lit upon a long jagged crack which
slanted downwards, and this he must reach
II he would save not only his own poor
life, but that of the eight-score men above
him. Yet II were madness to spring for
that narrow slit with nought but the wet,
smooth rock to cling to. He swung for q
moment, full Of thought, and even as he
hung there another OF the hellish stones
sang through his curls, and struck a clip
from the face of the cliff. Up he elambered
a few feet, drew up the loose end after
him, ensuing his belt held con 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 be could
go, he swung backwards and forwards UNI
til his hand reached the crack, then he
left the rope and chung to the face of the
cliff. Another stone struck him on the
side, and he heard a sound like a breaking
stick. with a keen stabblng pain which shot
through his chest. Yet 1t was no time now
to think Of 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 shuffling down
the long sloping crack, sometimes bearing
all his weight upon his arms, at others
to rest his foot. Would he never pass over
that fifty feet? He dared not look down,
and could but grOpe slowly EDWARDS, his
face to the cliff, his fingers clutching, his
feet scraping and feeling for a support
Every vein and crack and nothing of that
face Of rock remained forever stamped
upon his memory. At last, however, his
foot came upon a broad resting-place and
he ventured to cast a glance downwards.
Thank Godi he had reached the highest
of those fatal pinnacles upon which his
comrade had fallen. Quickly now he
sprank 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.
An evil blow It was for Alleyne, but
worse one still for him who struck 1t.
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 bow
men 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 huge boulder,
and, poising it for an instant, dropped II
with fatal aim upon the singer beneath
him. 1t stuck upon his shoulder, and
hurled him, crushing andp screaming, to
the ground, while Alleyne, recalled TO his
senses by these shrill cries In his very
ear staggered on to his feet, ana gazed
wildly about him. His eyes fell upon the
horses, grazing upon the scanty pasture
and in an instant all had come back TO
him-his mission, his comrades, 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 his saddle and
sprung down the valley. Loud rang the
swift chargers hoofs over rock and reef,
while the fire few from the stroke of iron,
and the loose stones showered up behind
him. But his head was whirling round,
the blood was gushing from his brow, his
temple. his mouth. Ever keener and
sharper was the deadly pain which shot
like red-hot arrow through his side. lie
felt that his eye was glazing, his senses
Slipping from him, his grasp upon the relns
relaxing. Then with one mighty effort, he
called up all his strength for single
minute. 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 faint
ing with his face buried in the coarse,
black name.
Little could be ever remember of that
wild ride. Half conscious, but ever with
n,.a 4bnuoht baatfuV In his mind, he