The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1906-02-24
JOAN &Hs 8R SWORD HAND
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ring narrowed. and the pair of gallant
fighters would doubtlessly have been
swept away had not diversion come
to alter the face Of things.
Out Of the gate which led TO the
wing of the palace occupied by the.
Princess Margaret burst a little com
pany of halberdiers, at sight of whom
the crowd gave suddenly back The
Princess herself was with them.
Take all prisoners. and bring them
within" she cried. My brother is
from home. or you dare not thus brawl
in the very precincts of the palace.
And at her words the soldiers ad-
yanced rapidly. A further diversion
was caused by the Sparhawk sudden
1y cleaying a way through the crowd
direction of the river.
The Princess and her guard were
left with only the secretary and the
unconscious cody Of the Prince OF
Muscoyy.
"Sirrah." she cried severely to the
former, lis this the first use you make
of our hospitality, thus 10 brawl in the
street underneath my very windows
with our noble guest the Prince Ivan?
Take him to my brothers room, and
keep him safely there to await our
lords return. We shall see what the
Prince will say to this. And as for
this wounded man. take him to his
own apartments ard let a surgeon be
sent to him"
SO. merely detailing half a dozen TO
carry the Prince to his chambers. the
captain of the guard conducted the
secretary to the very room in which
an hour before he had met the brother
Of the Princess. Here he was con
fined, with a couple OF guards at the
door. Nor had he been long shut up
before he heard the quick step of the
Princess coming along the passage
way
So" she said. as soon as the door
was shut, you have killed Prince
Wasp"
Il trust not" said the secretary,
gravely; Il meant only 10 wound him.
But as he attacked me could not do
otherwise than defend myself"
Tut" cried the Princess, Il hope
you have killed him. 1t will be good
riddance. and most like the Muscovites
will send an army which, with your
Plassenburg TO help us. will make a
pretty fight. 1t serves him right, at
all events. for Prince Wasp must al
ways be thrusting his sting into hon
est folk
The laws are strict against duel
ing" she continued. The Prince Ivan
is in high favor with my elder brother.
and it will be well that you are seen
no more in Courtland-for the pres
ent, that is. But in little the Prince
Wasp will die or he will recover. In
either case the affair will blow over
Then YOU will come back to teach me
more foreign customs"
She smiled and held out her hand.
Johann kissed it, perhaps without The
fervor which might have been expect
ed from a brisk young man thus high
~ favored by the fairest and sprisht-
liest of princesses.
Tonight she went on, there will
be a boat beneath that window. 1t
will be manned by those whom l can
trust. A ladder of rope will be thrown
to your easement, By it you will de-
scend, and with a good horse and a
sufficient escort you can ride either
to Plassenburg-or to kernsberg,
which is nearer, and tell Joan of the
Sword Hand that ler sister the Prin-
cess Margaret. send you to her.
She went to the door. and with her
fingers on the handle she turned her
head about with a pretty. vixenish
expression. Il am so glad you sturg
the Wasp. love you for it," she
said.
At seven 1t grew dark, and at ten
all was quiet in the city. The river
rushed swiftly beneath. and the noise
of it, as the water Tapped against the
stone foundations of the summer pal
ace, helped to disguise the noise of
oars, as the boat a dark shadow upon
greyish water. detached itself from
the opposite shore and approached the
window from whose open easement
Johann Pyrmont looked out.
A low whistle came from under
meath. and presently followed the soft.
reeving whisk Of a coil Of rope as it
passed through the window and fell at
his feet. The secretary looked about
for something to fasten 1t to. and final
ly decided upon the iron uprights Of
the great desk at which the Prince
had stood earlier in the day.
No sooner was this done than Jo-
ham set his foot on the top round and
began to descend. The boat seemed
very far away. mere spot Of black
ness upon the river face.
But presently. and while making up
his mind to practice the gymnastic of
rope ladders quietly at home. he made
out a man holding the ladder, while
two others with grappled boat hooks
kept the boat steady fore and aft.
A shrouded figure sat n the stern.