Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1906-05-24
cOpp1eht, laaL, b. D0dd. ueaeI ana eompanu

no more be choosers than beggars
when the fares in one pot. Come.
your highness. let me conduct you to
the guest chamber Of the Inn Of the
Hawk and Raven"
Beverly took his hand and stepped to
the ground. looking about in wonder
and perplexity.
II see no inn" she murmured appre-
bensively.
ssLook aloft. your highness. That
great black canopy is the roof; we are
standing upon the floor, and the dark
shadows just beyond the circle of light
are the walls Of the Hawk and Raven
This Is the largest tavern in all Grau-
stark. Its dimensions are as wide as
the world itself"
.sYou mean that there is no inn at
allY' the girl cried in dismay.
ALAS, | must confess it. And yet
there is shelter here. Come with me-.
Let your servant follow" He took her
by the hand and led her away from
the coach, a ragged lantern bearer
preceding. Beverly's little right hand
was rigidly clutching the revolver in
her pocket. It was capacious pocket,
and the muzzle of the weapon bored
defiantly into a timid powder rag that
lay on the bottom. The little leather
purse from which it escaped had its
silver lips opened as if in broad grin
OF derision, revealing in the plight OF
the chamois. The guides hand was at
once firm and gentle, his stride bold,
vet easy. His rakish hat, with its ag-
gressive red feather, lowered full
head above Beverly's Partisan violets.
Have you no home at all-no house
In which to sleepY Beverly asked.
81 live in castle of air." said he,
waving his hand gracefully. Il sleep
in the house of my fathers"
.sYou poor fellow cried Beverly
pityingly. He laughed and absently
patted the hilt of his sword.
She heard the men behind them turn
ing the coach into the glen through
which they walked carefully. Her feet
fell upon a soft, grassy sward, and the
clatter of stones was now no longer
heard. They were among the shad-
owy trees, gaunt trunks Of enormous
size looming up in the light of the Ian
terms. Unconsciously her thoughts
went over to the forest of Arden and
the woodland home of Rosalind, as she
had imagined it to be. Soon there
came to her ears the swish of waters,
as of some turbulent river hurrying
BY. Instinctiyely she drew back, and
her eyes were set with alarm upon the
black wall of night ahead. Yetiye had
spoken more than once of this wilder
ness. Many an unlucky traveller had
been lost forever in it's Businesses.
at is the river, your highness. There
is no danger. ! will not lead you into
it." he said, trife roughly. 1--WE are
low in the valley, and there are
marshes yonder when the river is IN
its natural bed. The floods have cover
ed the low grounds, and there is tor
rent coming down from the hills. Here
we are, your highness. This is the Inn
Of the Hawk and Raven"
He bowed and pointed with his hat
to the smoldering fire short distance
ahead. They had turned a bend in the
overhanging cliff and were very close
to the retreat before she saw the glow.
The fire was in the open air and di-
rectly in front of deep cleft in the
rocky background Judging by the
sound the river could not be more than
200 feet away. Men came up with
lanterns and others piled brush upon
the fire. In very short time the glen
was weirdly Illuminated by the dane
ing flames. From her seat on the huge
log Beverly was thus enabled to survey
portion of her surroundings. The
overhanging ledge Of rock formed a
wide, deep canopy, underneath which
was perfect shelter. The floor seemed
to be rich, CRASHES loan, and here and
there were pallets of long grass, evi-
IDENTIFY the couches of these homeless
men. All about were huge trees, and
III the direction Of the river the grass
grew higher and then gave place to
reeds. The foliage above was SO dense
that the moon and stars were invisible.
There was a deathly stiffness in the air.
The very loneliness was SO appalling
that Beverly's poor little heart was in
a CULVER Of dread. Aunt Fanny, who
sat near by, had not spoken since leav-
ing the coach, but her eyes were ex-
pressively active.
The tail leader stood near the fire
conversing with half dozen Of his fol-
lowers Miss Calhoun's eyes finally
rested upon this central figure in the
strange picture. He was attired in a
dark gray uniform that reminded her
oddly Of the dragon choruses in the
comic operas at home The garments,
while torn and soiled, were well fitting
His shoulders were broad and square,.
his hips narrow, his legs long and
straight. There was an air Of impu-
dent grace about him that went well
with his life and profession.
Surely here was careless free lance
upon whom life weighed lightly, while
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