Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-11
Boy Knights Nowadays.
PART II.


Sir Bertram. bookworm that he was
knew all about the famous sieges Of Troy
Lucknow. Paris and Ladysmith. and he
believed that It would be a valiant deed Of
arms II he were to hold out for long
time against an attacking force numbering
twice his own. Bertram was right, as we
all agree. But this siege Of Castle Never
fail was different from any described in the
histories. or even any through which Sir
Bertram had passed within the walls Of the
island stronghold. Sir Guy the Stout, most
often called Fatty Richards, was as big
again as Sir Bertram. and two whole
classes ahead Of him. The siege began at
II in the morning. A warden kept careful
watch on the castle walls while Sir Ber
tram and his men whitfield swords and ar
rows The warden was only ten years old.
and the story OF that graceful hero, Ro-
land. lay open by the little man-at-arms.
Sir Archie did not notice the approach of
Sir Guy and twenty lusty yeomen. who
were dragging over the fields queer en-
CINE of war. 1t was the old village fire en-
CINE. fitted with great pumping handles.
and used no more except as a make-believe
by small boys.
No one supposed that Fatty-I mean Sir
Guy-was bright enough to think Of drown
ing out the defenders. Perhaps he bor-
rowed the scheme from old Farmer
the ground by pouring pals Of water into
their holes When the tank Of the engine
had been filled from the flowing stream and
the yeomen had rolled up their sleeves. the
pumps creaked up and down. and Sir Guy
coolly turned the hose on the astonished
warden, who ducked just in time. The can
vas covering Of the castle was Of some pro-
lection, but after many quarts of water mad
showered on It cascades gushed through
cracks in the walls.
When Sir Guy had emptied thankful or
two upon the two he aimed his stream at
the loopholes in turrets and walls, and the
defenders felt as though they were standing
in bath at the gym" Water rose in the
dungeons and the besieged were obliged to
seat themselves on the roof of the armory.
Still the water crept up. Sir Guys men,
ready to keep up the siege until moonlight. II
necessary. were pumping In relays Of ten.
Sir Bertram heard the steady creaking OF
pumps and although none Of his men knew 1t
tears came Into his eyes once or twice, The
At o'clock Sir Archie cried little, say
ing that he would rather have dinner than
be an old knight And mothers going to
have pistache Ice cream, too he went on
It's my favortte DESERT
Sir Henry found in his pocket piece OF
gingerbread a week DID, and he generously
divided the scant rations into seven parts.
This isn't as bad as eating Shoes" said
Sir Bertram trying to be cheerful. ''Pve
heard of soldiers having to do that Menu
he cried. I'm going to defy the enemy. 1
can't be any more soaked than am now"
He sprang to the wall ladder with that odd.
sQuashy noise person makes when his
shoes are full Of water. Alas! his brave
war cry was drowned by the fierce stream
of the hose. He fell back into the arms OF
his squire, suffering with water and in
dignation. From that moment until 1850.
when wet flag Of truce waved over the
battlements, the defenders were a miser-
able lot No wonder they challenged Sir
Guy and his force to a fight In the open.
'Fists?" inquired Sir Guy. patting his fat
arms in a superior way.
"Oh. nor replied Sir Bertram. that kind
Of fighting Is common and mickeyish. We
are all knights of old and should fight gal
lantly. Oh. I know! Let's have a tourna-
ment-the real thing!'
After week Of busy preparation It came
off in field near the castle. Benches and
boxes set in a half circle were occupied by
fair ladies and noble knights and courtiers.
all dressed In gay costumes. which they
hoped looked old-fashioned. Old dresses
bedspreads curtains and ribbons were pop
ular.
After lemonade and crackers had been
served them from the castle walls. Teddy
Curran and his sister, Myra, the best-look-
ing children in town, were voted king and
queen, and they sat on a big shoebox
throne draped with red and black COM
forter.
The knights ready to enter the lists were
waiting in lawn tents. The announcing of
the events was done by a pair Of gorgeously
dressed heralds. who blew trumpets and
cried "Oyez! Oyer
"a mighty fitting combat between Sir
Bertram and the White Stag and Sir Guy
of the Red Dragon! was the opening
event knights and ladies shouted and
clapped. Sir Guy had nearly as many sup
porters as had Sir Bertram.
The knights rode face to face on pranc-
ing (boy) steeds. Their helmets, of card
board. covered with silver paper. and their
breastplates of the same material. were
were fencers masks. Boiler covers were
fitted over their shield arms, and long
plumes of red and white tissue paper waved
jauntily, as they brought lancers to
salute before the royal judges of the tour
ney.
Both steeds were armored in rugs and
tinware. Sir Guy and his charger were
clumsy. but Sir Bertram was light and his
horse a deft dodger. Three times Sir Ber-
tram permitted his adversary's lance to
pass him by. After ducking for the third
time Sir Bertram dug his clothespin spurs
deep into his horses TANKS. jumped to one
side to avoid Sir Guys fourth charge, and,
thrusting stiff1y. endorsed the stout knight.
Cir Guy went down In a clatter Of tin
ware. his horse atop of him. Loud was the
herring Of the spectators who were for
lently ate peanuts. The king and queen
tried not to show favor. but It was plain
that they were glad of Sir Bertram's feat
Of arms. Sir Bertram, kneeling before
IneU as CHIEF FlctOT OIL the tourney, was
crowned with a daisy garland by the DAM
ty hands Of the Queen Myra, and the MEM
DRY Of the siege was dryer to him and to
his men.
The fearful encounter between Jean the
Woodcutter and the Boar of Drenf1eld was
so exciting that the king and queen stood
up to cheer-a very undignifed thing for
royalty to do. Jem was Freddy Knowles.
a popuar boy who lived next door to the
king and queen. and The bear was Harry
Aliens new goat, with pillow tied to his
horns. Jem threw the boar twice, but the
boasting beast finally knocked the doughty
woodcutter into the midst of the Burnham
children. who were sitting legs a-dangle
upon a low box There were squealinR
scramble among the onloOkers, especially
among the Burnhams. and Jem said he
would own up that the boar was victor.
That famous animal, trying In vain to rub
of the pillow. rushed to the stream. but
not even there could he get rid of his an
noying burden, and the butting Of trees
only made him more angry. A herald was