The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-08-04
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sentativ.s"
THAT sounds well enough" answer
ed Boris doubtfully. but viii it stand
probation, think you. when Hugo
scoWIs at us from under his brows?"
Well said Jorian. at all events,
there is always our Helene. think
we may risk it"
True, meditated Boris. you say
We'll There is always Helene. The
Little Playmate will not let our necks
be stretched, Not at least for sue
couring a Princess in distress"
In a short quarter OF an hour the
drums OF the Plassenburg Palace
Guard mad beaten 10 arms. From gate
to gate the light sea-wind had borne
the cheerful trumpet call. and when
Joan returned, heartless and downcast.
with half dozen more mouldy rascals,
smelling of muck-rakes and damp
stable straw, she found before her
more than half the horsemen of Plas.
senburg armed cap-a-pie in FURNISHED
steel. Whereat she could only look
at Boris in astonishment
Your Highness," said that captain,
saluting gravely, I'VE are only able to
accompany you as ENJOYS Extraordin-
airy of the Prince and Princess of Plas-
senburg. But as such we feel it our
duty in order properly to support our
State to take with us a suitable attend
ance,"
Before Joan could reply a messenger
came squirting up the long, narrow
streets. Joan took the letter and
opened 1t with a jerk.
From High Captain Won Orseln to
the Princess Joan.
Come with all speed, II you would
be in time. We are hard beset. The
enemy are all about us. Prince Con.
rad has ordered a CHARGE"
The face of the woman whitened
as she read. but at the same moment
the fingers of Joan of the Sword Hand
tightened upon the hilt. She read the
letter aloud There was no comment.
Boris cried an order, Iorian dropped
to the rear. and the retinue of the En-
voys Extraordinary swung out on the
road towards the great battle.
AS Joan and the war-captains of
low growing roar like the distant
sound Of the breakers on the outer
shore at Isle Rugen. 1t rose and fell
as the ftful wind bore it towards
them, but it never entirely ceased.
They dashed through the fords of
the Ala. the three hundred lances of
the Plassenburg Guard clattering
eagerly behind them. Joan led, on a
black horse which Conrad had given
her. The two warcaptains with one
mind set their steel caps more firmly
on their heads.
They came nearer A few wreaths
of smoke. hanging over the yet distant
field, told where Russ and Teuton met
in battle array. A solemn, slumberous
reverberation heard at intervals split
the dull general roar apart. 1t was
the new cannon which had conc from
the Marsraf George to help beat back
the common foe. Then they began to
pass limping men hasting cityward.
with fleeing and panic-stricken wretch
es who looked over their shoulders as
if they saw steel flashing at their
backs.
'kernsberg, cried Joan, her sword
high in the air, as she set spurs in her
black stallion and swept onward
good twenty yards before the rush OF
the horsemen Of Plassenburg
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 outhanked
and overla-ped the slender array of
Courtland. 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 Margraf's 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 a swarm Of angry bees, striking
every way with a desperate courage.
IRe charging squ2drons OF plaSS6n-
burg divided to pass right and left of
the cannon. Joan first of ALL with
her sword lifted and crying not Kerns
berg now. but Conrad, Conrad"
drove straight into the heart of the
Cossack swarm. At the tramplins of
the horses feet the MuscoVites lifted
their eyes. They had been too intent
TO kill to waste a thought on any pos
sible succor.
Joan felt herself strike right and
left. Her heart was craZed within her
SO that she set spurs in her sfeed and
rode him forward, plunging and furi-
Gus. Then a blowing wisp of white
plume was swept aside. and through a
helmet (broken as nut is cracked
and falls ararD Joan saw the fair