The La Jara chronicle., 1906-08-17
~ CopYri qhted lse4 .Ry HAtper s. Broth

gealment with his three companion
behind him. Alleyne leading his mas-
small parties of French and Spanish
horse were sweeping hither and thiths r
that the small band attracted little
notice. and making its way at a gent
trot across the plain. they came as far
as the camp without challenge ur
hindrance. On and on they pushed
past the endless lines Of tents. amid
the dense swarms of horsemen and OF
footmen. until the huge royal pavilion
stretched in front OF them. They were
close upon 1t when of sudden there
broke out n wild hubbub from a dia-
tnnt portion Of the camp. with scream
and war-cries and all the wild tumu
of battle. At the sound soldie-- ~anp
rushing from their tents. kniGht
shouted loudly for their squires. an
there was mad turmoil on every hanl
of bewildered men and plunging horse
At the royal tent n crowd Of gorgeous
ly dressed servants ran hither ar
thither In helpless panic for the guar
Of soldiers who were stationed ther0
had already ridden off in the direc
tion of the alarm. A man at-arms o.
either side OF the doorway were TIL
sole protectors Of the royal dwelling
II have come for the king" whisper
ed Sir Nigel: "and. by Saint PAUL
must back with US or I must BIZ
here"
AIleyne and Aylvard sprang from thelr
horses and flew at the two sentries, VIII
were disarmed and beaten down in an in
staut by so furious and unexpected an at
tnck. Sir Nigel dashed Into the royal
tent, and was followed by Horde John a.
soon as the horses had been secured. Fror
within came wild SCREENINGS and the clash
of steel and then the two emerged onC0
more. their swords and forearms red
dened with blood. while John bore over
his shoulder the senseless body of man
whose gray surcoat adorned with the lion
and towers OF CASTLE. proclaimed him to
belong TO the royal house. A crowd OF
white-faced sewers and pages swarmed at
their heels, those behind pushing forwards
while the foremost shrnnk back from thu
nerce fnces and reeking weapons of the
adventures. The senseless body was
thrown across the spare horse, the -four
sprang to their saddles. and away they
Numbered with loose relns and busy spur
through the swimming camp.
But Confusion and disorder still relgned
among the Spanlards. for Sir William
FELTON, and his men had swept through
half their camp. leaving long litter OF thr
dead and dying 10 mark their course. I'm
certain who were their attackers. and uu-
able TO tell their English enemies from
thelr uewly-arrived Breton allies, the
Spanish knights rode wildly hlther and
thlthcr In nimless fury. The mad tur-
moIl. the mixture OF races, and the fadinc
alone knew their own purpose among tn"
vast uncertain multitude Another five
minutes OF wild Eailoplng over the plain,
and they were all hnck In their gorge.
while their pursuers fell back before the
rolling OF the English drums aud hllre
OF trumpets, which seemed to proclaim
that the whole army OF the prince was
about to emerge from the mountain
passes.
by my soul. Nigel cried Sir oliver,
what have we here:'
1T Is a prisoner whom / have taken.
and In sooth, as he came from the royal
tcnt and wears the royal arms upon his
jupon, / trust TINT he Is the King of
SPAIN
The King of SPAIN cried the com
panions. crowdins round in amazem"ni.
Nay. Sir Nigel said FELTON,, pccring
at the prisoner through the uncertain
light. 81 have twice seen Henry OF
TrTnstamare and certes this man IN no
way resembles him.
who are you fellowT' he added In
Spanish. 'nnd how Is it that you dare
10 wear the arms OF CastileT'
The prisoner was but recovering the
consciousness which had been squeezed
from him by the grip of Horde John.
nine others are the body-sluires 0f the
king. and must ever wear his arms, so
as to shield him from even such perils
as have threatened him this night The
king Is at the tent of the brave Du Guesc-
lin. where he will sup 10 night. But ] am
a caballero of Araron, Don Sancho Pcne-
losa and. though he no king, l am vet
ready to pay a fitting price for my ran
SON.
by Saint PAUL Will not touch YOUR
gold cried Sir Nigel. Go back to your
master and give him greeting from Sir
Nigel Loring of Twynham Castle, telling
him that l had hoped to make his better
acquaintance this night and that, II 1
hnve disordered his tent, 1t was bur in
my cagerness TO know so famed and rour-
tcous n knight. Spur on, comrades for
we must cover many a league ere we can
venture to light fire or TO loosen girth.
CHATTER XVI.
1t was cold. bleak morning in the 4 e
ginning Of March, and the mist was drift
ing In dense rolling clouds through the
passes of the Cantahrian mountains. The
Company had passed the night In shell
tered gully. Here aud there. through the
dense haze which surrounded them, there
loumel out huge pinnucles and Jutting
bouldcrs OF rock: while high above the
sea of vapor there lowered up one gigantic
peak, with the pink glow OF the early sun
shine upon its snow-capped head
The camp was loud with laughter and
merrinent, for a messenger had ridden in
from the prince with words of heart-stir-
ring praise for what they had done, and
with orders that they should still abide In
the forefront of the army.
The Lord Loring Graves your attend
ance in his tent, said young archer to
Alleyne.
The squire found the knight sented upon
cushion, with his legs crossed In front
OF him and a broad ribbon OF parchment
laid across his knees. over which he was
poring with frownlng brows and pursed
lips.
''It came this morning by the nrIpca's g
messenger" said he. ''and was brought
from England by Sir John Fallislee. who
is new come from Sussex"
Alleyne turned to the letter, and. as his
eyes rested upon It, his face turned pale
and a cry of surprise and grief burst from
his lips.
"What then 90 nsted tho trni-b+ ,os-I. =