The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-08-17

no more 5e eSoosers than beggars
when tie fares IN one pot. Come.
your hiShness. let ne conduct you to
the guest chamber of the Inn of the
Hawk and Raven"
Beverly took Lis hand and stepped to
the ground. looking about IL wonder
and pa.-1!e-ity.
II soc 70 inn" she murmured appre-
hensively.
Look aloft. your highness. That
great black canopy is the roof: we are
standing upon tie floor, ana the dark
shadows just beyond the circle of light
are the walls of the Hawk and Raven.
This is the largest tavern in all Grau-
stark. Its dimensions are as wide as
the world itself"
'You mean that there is no inn at
ALI" the girl cried in dismay.
Alas. | must confess it. And yet
there is shelter here. Come with me.
Let your servant follow" He took her
by the hand and led her away from
the coach, ragged lantern bearer
preceding. Beverly's little right hand
was rigidly clutching the revolver in
her pocket. 1t was capacious pocket,
and the muzzle of the weapon bored
detantly into timid powder rag that
lay on the bottom. The little leather
purse from which it escaped had its
silver lips opened as If In broad grin
of derision, reveling In the plight Of
the chamois. The guides hand was at
once firm and gentle, his stride bold,
yet easy. His rakish hat, with its ag-
gressive red feather, lowered a full
head above Beverly's Partisan violets.
Have you no home at all-no house
in which to sleepT Beverly asked.
II live in a castle OF air." said he.
waving his hand gracefully. II sleep
In the house of my fathers"
you poor fellow" cried Beverly
pityingly. He laughed and absently
patted the hilt of his sword.
She heard the men behind them turn
ing the coach into the glen through
which they walked carefully. Her feet
fell upon a soft, grassy sward, and the
clatter of stones was now no longer
heard. They were among the shad-
owy trees, gaunt trunks of enormous
size looming up In the light of the Ian
terms. Unconsciously her thoughts
went over to the forest of Arden and
the woodland home of Rosalind, as she
had imagined 1t to be. Soon there
came to her ears the swish of waters,
as of some turbulent river hurrying
by. Instinctively she drew back, and
her eyes were set with alarm upon the
black wall of night ahead. Yetive had
spoken more than once of this wilder
ness. Many an unlucky traveller had
been lost forever In its Businesses.
1T is the river, your highness. There
is no danger. will not lead you into
it." he said, trifie roughly. I'VE are
low in the valley, and there are
marshes yonder when the river is in
its natural bed. The foods have cover
ed the low grounds, and there is tor
rent coming down from the hills. Here
we are, your highness. This is the Inn
of the Hawk and Raven"
He bowed and pointed with his hat
to the smoldering fire short distance
ahead. They had turned bend in the
overhanging cliff and were very close
to the retreat before she saw the glow.
The fire was In the open air and di-
rectly in front of a deep cleft in the
rocky background Judging by the
sound the river could not be more than
200 feet away. Men came up with
lanterns and others piled brush upon
the fire. In a very short time the glen
was weirdly Illuminated by the dane
ing flames. From her seat on the huge
log Beverly was thus enabled to survey
a portion of her surroundings. The
overhanging ledge of rock formed a
wide, deep canopy, underneath which
was perfect shelter. The floor seemed
to be rich, grassless loan, and here and
there were pallets of long grass, evil
IDENTIFY the couches OF these homeless
men. All about were huge trees, and
in the direction of the river the grass
grew higher and then gave place to
reeds. The foliage above was so dense
that the moon and stars were invisible
There was a deathly stiffness in the air.
The very loneliness was so appalling
LudI beverly . pOOE llttle ucdIt was ia .
a CULVER of dread. Aunt Fanny. who
sat near by, had not spoken since leav- I
ing the coach, but her eyes were ex-
pressively active.
The tall leader stood near the fire
with half a dozen Of his fol
lowers. Miss Calhouns eyes finally
rested upon this central figure in the
strange picture. He was attired in
dark gray uniform that reminded her
oddly of the dragon choruses in the
comic operas at home. The garments,
while torn and soiled, were we'll fitting.
His shoulders were broad and square,
his hips narrow, his legs long and
straight. There was an air of impu-
dent grace about him that went well
with his life and profession.
Surely here was a careless free lance
upon whom life weighed lightly, while
death "stood afar off, and despaired. ..
The light of the fire brought his gleam-
ing face into bold relief, for his hat !.
,.oc oef IlIooIy oDd thioly uyoS hic bnir I