Rocky Ford enterprise., 1906-03-30

THAT is none so III thought on for
beardless younker' l will think II
over. sleep on II. and tell you my opin-
Ion tomorrow! Al any rate" the
chief captain growied to himself. you
have pretty part set for me. ! may
| forthwith order my shroud. ] shall
never be able to face my lady again."
The Duchess Joan was In high
spirits. 1t had been Judged necessary.
In consultation with her chief officers.
to ride a reconnaissance to ascertain
whether the advancing enemy had cut
Kernbcrg OF towards the north. On
this matter Won Orscin thought that
her HiIhncEs had better Judge for her
self. Here n, last was something To
be- done. II was almost like the old
foraying days. but now In u more dcS'
p.ratc cause.
No on. In all Castle K.rnsbcr. was
To know Of III. departure of this cav
alcadc. TIL. Sparhawk Was appointed
to command during Won ors.ln's alb
Ecnc-. Ten men only were to 30. and
ih"s. picked and Sift.i ridcrs-cnoscn
bacaus" OF their powers Of silence
and because. bcin. unmarried. they
had no wives to- worm secrets out OF
them.
Joan and her chief captain rod" an
ahead. Won orscin siancInE kccniy
about hiin. and Joan riding free aud
careless. as In old days when she over.
| passed the hills to drive prey from
the lands of her fathers enemies.
II ~aA sr-y morning when they
came to a snaihcrd's hut at the top
oI tho green valley. Already they
had passed tho bounds Of HohcnSicin
by half a dozen miles. Tn" goaihcrd
] had led his iisht skipping train to th.
hills for th. day. and the rude and
chaotic remains Of his brrakfas, were
still on the table. Boris and jorian
cleared these away. and. with tho
trained aiacTiiy of seasoned men at
arms. they placed before the party a
breakfast prepared with speed out os
which they had brought with them
and those things which they had
found To their hand by foTaEinE in tn"
cottage of the snaihcrd-to- ait. sliced
heats tongue dried in the smoke.
bread Of fn- wheat which Jorian had
carried all the way in n net a, his sad.
die how. Boris had charge OF the
wine skins. and upon shelf above
the door they found a great butter 10,
full ot freshly made cuFdcd goats
milk. very delicious both to ias;. and
| smell.
OF these things they ate and drank
largely. Joan and Won OTssln being Ia.
| scthcr at the upper end OF the table.
Boris and Iorian had to sit with them.
| though much aEainht their Wills. bc-
Ing ,spi;c Of their s~crthcaTts, more
| accustomed to the company uf honest
| mssi al arms than 10 the practice OF
dainty eating in ladies' society.
soon Joan of the Sword Hand rose
/ 10 her feet. for the cS.mCn at arms
had few words To say.
"i.ui rs now mount and ride home.
| ward. she said. There ar" no enemy
/ TO bc found on this noTthcriy road.
| We shall h. more fortunate upon
I another occasion
/ Then Werner Won OTsciu ncrvri
himself for battle more serious
than any he had ever fought a; the
elbow Of Henry the Lion OF Hohcn'
| stein.
My lady" he said. standing up and
bowling sTaSciy before her. you SEQ
here eleven men who, love you far
above their lives. of whom I am the
chief Two others also there are.
who. though not of our nation. are In
| heart Joined TO us. especially in this
thing that We have done. With all
respect. your HiRhnpss cannot go
back. We have come out. not TO
make a reconnaissance. but to put
/ your Grace in place OF safety till The
storm blows over"
| The Duchess had slowly risen to
her feet. with her hand on the sword
which swung at her belt.
You have suddenly gone mad. wer.
nrr'~ she said: ''let us have no mure
Of this. bid you mount and ride.
/ Back TO KeTnsbers. I say' We are not
such fools and traitors as to deliver
/ the maiden Castle. the Eagles Nest of
Iiohenstcin. into the hands of our enc.
mies?-'
Nay" said Won Orseln. looking
/ steadily upon the ground. that will We
rot do. Kernsberg is in good hands.
and will fight bravely. but We cannot
hold out with our few folk and scanty
pruvcnder against the Lacquer of
thirty thousand. Nevertheless We will
not permit you TO sacrifice yourself
/ for our sakes or for the sake of the
women and children of the city"
Joan drew her sword.
Werner Won Orseln. will you obey
me. or must slay you with my
hand?" she cried.
The chief captain yet further bowed
his head and abased his eyes.
we have thought also of this = he