The La Jara chronicle., 1906-08-17

But, my fair lord, how can we hope to
reach the horses?' 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 cliT?''
Had but rope
There is one here. 1t is but one hum
dred feet long. and for the rest We must
trust to God and to your fingers. Can
you try it, Aleyne?''
with all my heart. my dear lord. but
how can leave yoI in such strait?''
Nay. it is 10 serve me that ye go. And
you, Norburyi'
The silent squire said nothing. but he
took up the rope, and, having examined
1t. he tied one end firmly round project
ing rock. Then he east OF his breast
plate. thigh pieces, and Ereaves. while AL
ieyne followed his example.
TELL Chandos. or Calverley. or knolles.
should the prince have gone forward.
cried Sir Nigel Now may God speed
We, for ye are brave and worthy men,"
1t 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 cliff seemed from above to
reach little more than halfway down it.
Beyond stretched the rugged rock, wet and
shining, with green TUT here and there
thrusting out from it, but little sign of
ridge or foothold. Far below the jagged
points OF the boulders bristlcd up, dark
and menaclng. Norbury tugged thrice
with all his strength upon the cord. and
then lowered himself over the edge, while
a hundred anxious faces peered over at
him he slowly clnmbered downwards to
the end of the rope Twice he stretched
out his foot, and twice he failed to reach
the point at which he aimed, but even as
he swung himself for a third effort stone
from n sling buzzed like wasp from
amid the rocks and struck him full upon
the side of his head. His grasp relaxed.
his feet slipped, and in an instant be was
a crushed and mangled corpse upon the
-1a rNI Iatan Ia h1Nn
IF have no better fortune said AL
leyne, leading Sir Nigel aside. Il pray
you, my dear lord. that you will give my
humble service to the Lady Maude, and say
to her that l was ever her true servant
and most unworthy cavalier"
The old knight said word, but he put
q hand on either shoulder, and kissed his
squire, with the tears shining in his eyes.
Alleyne sprang to the rope. and sliding
swiftly down, soon found himself at its
extremity. From above 1t seemed as
though rope md cliff were well-nish touch
ing, but now, when swinging hundred feet
down, the squire found that he could scarce
reach the face of the rock with his foot,
and that 1t was smooth as glass. with
no resting-place where mouse could
stand. Some three feet lower, however,
his eye lit upon long jagged crack which
slanted downwards, and this he must reach
IL he would save not only his own poor
life but that of the cight-score men above
him. Yet II were madness to spring for
that narrow Sill WIN nouent Dut tne Wet,
smooth rock to cling to. He swung for
moment, full of thought, and even us he
hung there another of the hellish stones
sang through his curls, and struck clip
from the face of the cllH. Up he clambered
n few feet. drew up the loose end after
him, ensuing his belt, held on with knee
and with elbow while he spliccd the long
tough lenthern belt to the end of the cord;
then lowering himself as far as he could
go. he swung backwards and forwards un-
I'll his hand reached the crack, then he
left the rope and clung to the face of the
cliff. Another stone struck him on the
side, and he heard a sound like breaking
stick, with keen stabblng pain which shot
through his chest. Yet 1t was no time now
to think of pain or ache. There was his
lord and his eight-score comrades, and they
must be plucked from the jaws OF death: On
he clambercd, with his hand shuffling down
the long sloping crack, sometimes bearing
all his weight upon his arms, at others
finding small shelf or tuft on which
TO rest his foot. Would he never pass over
that fifty feet? He dared not look down,
and could but grope slowly onwards, his
face to the cliff, his fingers clutching, his
feet scraping and feeling for a support.
Every vein and crack and nothing of that
face of rock remained forever stamped
upon his memory. At last. however. his
foot came upon broad resting-place and
he ventured to cast a glance downwards.
Thank God, he had reached the highest
of those fatal pnnacles upon which his
comrade had fallen. Quickly now he
sprank from rock to rock until his feet
were on the ground. and he had his hand
stretched out for the horses rein, when
n sling-st struck him on the head, and
he dropped senseless upon the GROUND.
An evil blow 1t was for Alleyne. but a
worse one still for him who struck II.
The Spanish singer. seeing the youth lie
slain and Judging from his dress that he
was no common man, rushed forward 10
plunder him, knowing well that the bow
men above him had expended their last
shaft He was still three PAGES, however,
from his victims side when John upon
the cliff above plucked up huge pouider,
and, poislng 1t for an Instant, dropped IL
with fatal aim upon the singer beneatn
him. 1t stuck upon his shoulder, and
hurled him, crushing ands screaming 10
the ground. while Alleyne. recalled TO MS
senses by these shrill cries in his very
ear, staggered to his feet and gazed
wildly about him. His eyes fell upon the
horses, grazing upon the scanty pasture,
and in an instant all had come back TO
him-his mission. his comrades, the need
for haste He was dizzy. sick. faint, but
he must not die, and he must not larry,
for his life meant many lives that day.
In an instant he was In his saddle ana
sprung down the valley. Loud rang me
swift chargers hoofs over rock and reef,
while the fire flew from the stroke OF iron.
and the loose stones showered up pehihu
him. But his head was whirling rounu'
the blood was gushing from his brow, his
temple. his mouth. Ever keener and
sharper was the deadly pain which shot
like red-hot arrow through his side. He
felt that his eye was glazing. his senses
Slipping from him, his grasp upon the reins
relaxing. Then with one mighty effort. he
called up all his strength for single
minute. STOPPING down, he loosened the
stirrup-straps, bound his knees tightly TO
his saddle flaps. twisted his hands In the
bridle. and then, putting the gallant
horses head for the mountain path. he
dashed the spurs In and fell forward faint
ing with his face buried in the COARSE
black name.