The Greeley tribune., 1906-08-16
iahted 1884 BY Harper E BrotheTs

and rode quietly forth from his con-
cealment with his three companions
| behind him, Alleyne leading his mas
| ter's own steed by the bride. So many
| small parties of French and Spanish
horse were sweeping hither and thither
| that the small band attracted little
| notice and making its way at a gentle
| trot across the plain. they came as far
as the camp without challenge or
: hindrance. On and on they pushed
past the endless lines of tents, amid
I 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
J broke out n wild hubhub r-~--, dis
tant portion OF the camp. with screams
! and war-cries and all the wild tumult
| Of battle. At the sound soldir~- -~ne
| rushing from their tents. knights
shouted loudly for their sauires, and
| there was mad turmoil on every hand
| Of bewildered men and plunging horses
| At the royal tent crowd of gorgeous
| ly dressed servants ran hither and
| thfther In helpless panic for the guard
of soldiers who were stationed there
had already ridden Of, in the direc-
| ton Of the alarm. A man-at-arms on
either side OF the doorway were the
sole protectors of the royal dwelling
Il have come for the king" whisper
ed Sir Nigel: land. by Saint Paul! h
-'ust hack with US or must bid
| here
Alleyne and Aylward sprang from their
! horses. and flew MT the two sentrtes who
were disarmcd and beaten down In an in
| stant by so furious and unexpected mn at
| tack. Sir Nigel dashed Into the royal
tent. and was followed by Horde John as
soon as tho horses had been secured. From
within came wild SCREENINGS and the clash
of steel, and then the two emerged once
more. their swords and forearms red
] dened with blood while John bore over
| his shoulder the senseess body of a man
| whose gray snrcoat adorned with the lions
and towers of CASTLE. proclaimed him to
belong to the royal house. A crowd of
white-faced sewers and pages swarmed al
| their heels. those behind pushing forwards
while the foremost shrank back from the
| fierce faces and reeking weapons of the
adventurcrs. The senseless body was
thrown across the spare horse, the four
sprang to their saddles. and away they
thundered with loose reins and busy spurs
through the swarmng camp.
But confusion and disorder still reigned
| among the Spaniards. for Sir William
FELTON, and his men had swept through
half their camp, leaving n long litter of the
dead and dying to mark their course. Un-
certain who were their attackers, and un-
able TO tell their English enemies from
their newly-arrived Breton allies, the
| Spanish knights rode wildly hither and
| thither in aimIess fury. The mad tur-
| noil, the mixture of races. and the fading
| light, were all In favor Of the four who
alone knew their own purpose among the
vast uncertain multitude. Another Ave
minutes of wild galloping over the plain,
and they were all back In their gorge,
while their pursuers fell back before the
rolling OF the English drums and blare
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 prisoner whom I have taken,
and In sooth, as he came from the royal
| tent and wears the royal arms upon his
| jupon, l trust that he is the King of
| SPAIN
1.-The King of SPAIN" cried the COM
panions, crowdins round in amazement.
at the prisoner through the uncertain
| light. II have twice seen Henry Of
| Transtamare, and certes this man In no |
| way resembles him.
| who yon, feow?' he added in
Spanish, land how is 1t that you dare
| to wear the OF Castile7''
The, prisoner was hut recovering the
consciousness which had been squeezed
| from him by the grip OF Horde John |
III 1t please YOU he answered. II and
| nine others are the body -squires of the
| king. and must wear his arms, so \
as to shield him from even such perils
| rs have threatened him this night, The
king Is at the tent of the brave Du Guesc-
lin where he will sup to night. But am
caballero Of Aragon, Don Sancho Peue-
losa. and. though 1 be no king. l am yet
ready to pay a fitting price for my ran
SON.
by Saint Paul! will not touch yopr
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 n I |
nraI his =
my eagerness to know SO famed and cour-
teous knight. Spur on, comrades. for
we must cover many league ere we can
venture to light fire or to loosen girth.
CHAPTER XVI.
1t was a cold. bleak morning in the he
| ginning of March, and the mist was drift
Ing In dense rolling clouds through the
passes of the Cantabrian mountains The
Company had passed the night In n shot
tered gully. Here and there, through the
dense haze which surrounded them, there
| loomed out huge pinnacles and Juttiny
boulders 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
| merriment, for 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
Allcyne.
Ihe squire found the knight sea ted upon
cushion. with his legs crossed in front
or him and broad ribbon OF parchment
aid across his knees. over which he was
poring with frowning brows and pursed
lips. p'ise''
1T came this morning by the princess
messenRer said he, land was brought
from England by Sir John F'allislee. who
Is new come from Sussex
Alleyne turned to the letter, and. a, nj.
eyes rested upon 1t, his face turned male
and cry Of surprise and grief burst from
his lips.
| w nat then?' asked the knight ,.o-,,u
up ht MN anxiously. "There Is nonybt
amiss with the Lady Mary or r.,,, ~