The Delta independent., 1906-08-17

yond. Then on to the prince. and tell
him how We fare
But. my fair lord, how can we hope to
reach the horsesi'' asked Norbury.
.''Ye cannot go round to them. for they
would be upon ye ere ye could could come
to them. Think ye that ye have heart
enough to Chamber down this cliff?'
Had we but "A rope
There Is one here. 1t IL but one hun
dred feet long. and for the rest ye must
trust to God and to your fingers. Can
you try It. Alleynef"
with all my henrt. my dear lord. but
how can leave You In such a straitT'
''Eay. 1t IL to serve me that ye 60 And
you. Norburyf'
The silent squire said nothing, but he
took up the rope. and. having examined
II. he tied one end firmly round project
ing rock. Then he east on his breast
plate, thigh pieces. and greavcs. while AL
ieync followed his example.
Tell Chandos. or Calverley, or knOlles,
should the prime" have gone forward.
,ftei Sir Nigel. Now may God speed
yc. for ye are brave and worthy men,.
II was, indeed. n 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 to
reach little more than halfway down II.
Beyond stretched the rugged rock. wet and
shining. with n green tuft here and there
thrusting out from 1t. but little sign Of
ridge or foothold. Far below the jagged
points OF the houders bristisd up. dark
and m.nacing, Surbury tugrcd thrice
with all his strength upon the cord. and
then lowered himself over the edge. while
y hundred anxious faces pecr.d over at
him AZ he slowly clambered downwards to
the end Of the rope. Twice he stretched
out his foot. aud twice he failed to reach
tn. point nt which h. aimed. bnt even as
he swung himself for a third effort II stone
from IL sling buzzed like n wasp from
amid tn. rocks and struck him full upon
the side Of his head. His grasp relaxed.
his feet Slipped, and In an instant lee was
y crushed aud mnngI.d corpse Tp"n the
sharp ridges beneath him.
''If hay. no better fortune. said Al
lcyne. leading Sir Nigel aside. IL pray
you. my dear lord. TINT you Will give my
humbi. service To the Lady Maude, and say
to her that was ever her true servant
aud most unworthy cavalier.
The old knight said no word. but he put
n hand on either shoulder. and kissed his
squire, with the tears shining In his eyes
Allcync -prang to the rope. and sliding
swiftly down. s"on found himself at Its
extremity. From above II seemed as
though rope and cl!n were weil-uigh touch
Ing. but now. when swinging a hundred feet
down, the squire found that b. could scarce
reach tn. face Of the rock with his foot
aud that II was as smooth as glass. with
no r.rtlnE-p place where mouse could
stand. Some three feet lower, bow"Ser.
his eye 1T upon n long jagged crack which
siautad downwaris. and this b. must reach
II h- would snV. not only bis own poor
life. but that of III. cIght-score men ni"r"
him. Yet u wer" madness io spring FOR
that narrow slit with nouIht but the wet,
smooth r,-ck to cling to. He swung for
ui"m"ni. full OF thought, and even a. he
hung there another Of tn" hclllsh stones
-ang through his curls, and struck clip
from tn. face 81 the clIT. Up he clambered
few feet. drew up the I""s. end after
him. ensuing his hrit. held on with kn""
and with elbow Will. he spli"cd III" long
tough I-athcrn belt to the end OF the cord
then lowering himself ns far ~ he "ould
go H.. swung backwards and forwards uh-
~ hi. hand reached The crack. then n"
left tn" rop. and clun2 TO tn" face OF the
,lln, Another rfon" -tru"k him nn thr
side. aud he heard snund III" breaking
stick. with a Keen stabbinr pain which shot
through his chest. Yet II was no tim" now
1" think Of pain or ache. There was his
fnrd aud hi. .ight-srorc comrades, and they
l,t'.., piuckcd from the Jaws of death. on
L.. s'Iambcred. 9Th his hAfs -.4s.ffiihr down
the long -lopins crack. sometimes tsarihx
alt his weight upon hb arms, At others
trlInr .nm. small shelf or tuft on which
l.. n, - his foot Would he never pass over
tl.I, nfty frp'f lie dared not look down,
aud c"rlh 90 crop" slowly on"ards. nus
face % Al. n. his fingers clutchinI. MS
feet rapiuE aud feeling for a support
,;v.r, -in and crack aud mottiinr Of that
fac. Of rock remained forever stamped
upon hi. memory. At last however MS
foot came Upon broad rcstinc-plhcr and
h., y.ntur~d 10 cast glance dowhwnt"s.
Thank God, he had reached the highest
of thosc :, ,II pinnaci"s upon which his
ruI.,.au" mad fallen. Quickly now nc
sprank from rock to rock until his feet
were on the ground. and b" had Ills hahu
stretched GU for the horses rem "h'n
. sling -stou. struck him on 'h" head. ana
h. dropped -ens-iess upon tn" ground
a.t. d. far n
ror,. one stIlI for him who struck II.
The SpsnIsh singer. seeing the youth lie
slain, and judging from his dress thai ne
was no common man. rushed f"rwarh I"
plumber him. knowing well that the po"
men abov. him had expended their last
shaft II. wn- siill three PAGES. however,
from hi. victims side when John upon
tn. cIIr above pluckcd up n huge houIn"r.
and, paIsing II for Rn instant. ht"pi"" u
with fatal aim upon the slhg't "'"'h'.
MIN II stuck upon his shoulder. and
hurled him. crushing ands scrchming I"
IN, ground while Aiirync, recalled 10 MS
sense, by these shrill cries IN ms 'cr!
enr staggered on 10 his frct. mn" thte"
wildly about him. His eyes zen upon IN"
horses grazing upon the scantE pastnr''
.,d In an instant all had come back TO
bIm-his mission. his comrades. the n"en
for haste. n" was dizzy. sick. th,h,' p"'
he mus, not dIr. and h" must h"' ",r!'
for his life mrant many lNes 'nn. "S
In mn instant he was In his saddle an"
sprung down tn. valley. L"nd rang me
swift chargers hoof~ over rock ahh I'e'.
,,hii, M, Ar. few from the stroke OF Iron.
and IN. loose stones showcr"d up benin"
him, Bu, his head was whirl'nr r""na.
the blood was gushing from his brow ms
temple. his mouth. Ever krrn"t an.
,hRrpcr was the deadly pain when snot
nv. rod no, arrow through his side, He
felt that his cy. was glazing. hi. senses
.iinn,nv from him, his grasp upon the reins
relaxing, Then with one mighty cnort. ne
called up nli his strength Tor snn,e
minute, Stooping down. he LOOSE 'ne
,irr,, rams hound his knees -ntiy 10
his saddle fnps. twisted his ",,hds In the
hr,d,c and then, putin the gallant
horses head FOR the M 'mln PAIN, ne
dashed the spurs ir nr' ~ Forward Inln.
Ing with his fac" .'cn !" '"' ''"'''