Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1906-08-17

dhu rue quietly IOTCn from MS 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 it's 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
the dense swarms of horsemen and of
footmen, until the huge royal pavilion
stretched in front of them. They were
close upon it when of a sudden there
broke out a wild hubbub from a dis
tant portion of the camp, with screams
and war-cries and all the wild tumult
or battle. At the sound soldie-~ oame
rushing from their tents, knights
shouted loudly for their squires, and
there was mad turmoil on every hand
OF bewildered men and p1unging horses.
At the royal tent crowd Of gorgeous
ly dressed servants ran hither and
thither in helpless panic for the guard
of soldiers who were stationed there
had already ridden off 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; "and, by Saint Paul! r
must back with US or I must bid
here"
Alleyne and Aylward sprang from their
horses, and flew at the two sentries, who
were disarmed and beaten down in an in
slant by so furious and unexpected an at
tack. Sir Nigel dashed into the royal
tent, and was followed by Horde John as
soon as the 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 senseless body of a man
whose gray surcoat, adorned with the lions
and towers of CASTLE, proclaimed him to
belong to the royal house. crowd Of
white-faced sewers and pages swarmed at
their heels, those behind pushing forwards
while the foremost shrank back from the
fierce faces and reeking weapons of the
adventurers. The senseless body was
thrown across the spare horse, the four
sprang to their saddles, and away they
Numbered with loose reins and busy spurs
through the swarming camp.
But confusion and disorder still reigned
among the Spaniards, for Sir William
FELTON, and his men had swept through
half their camp, leaving a long litter of the
dead and dying to mark their course. I'm
certain who were their attackers, and I'M
able to tell their English enemies from
their newly-arrived Breton allies, the
Spanish knights rode wildly hither and
thither in aimless fury. The mad tur-
moil, 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 five
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?'
''It is a prisoner whom I have taken,
and in sooth, as he came from the royal
tent and wears the royal arms upon his
jupon, I trust that he is the King of
Spain.
''The King of Spainr' cried the COM
panions, crowding round in amazement.
NAY, Sir Nigel said FELTON,, peering
at the prisoner through the uncertain
light. 81 have twice seen Henry of
Transtamare, and certes this man in no
way resembles him.
"Who are you, fellow?'' he added in
Spanish, ''and how is it that you dare
to wear the arms of Cashier
The prisoner was but recovering the
consciousness which had been squeezed
from him by the grip of Horde John.
'If it please you,' he answered, 81 and
nine others are the body-squires of the
king, and must ever wear his arms, so
as to shield him from even such perils
as have threatened him this night. The
king is at the tent of the brave Du Guesc-
lin, where he will sup to night But 1 am
a caballero of Aragon, Don Sancho Pene-
losa, and, though 1 be no king, I am yet
ready to pay a fitting price for my ran
son."
by Saint Paul! I will not touch your
gold,'' cried Sir Nigel. go back to your
master and give him greeting from Sir
Nigel Loring of Twynham Castle, telling
him that 1 had hoped to make his better
acquaintance this night, and that, if I
have disordered his tent, it was but in
my eagerness to know so famed and cour-
teous a knight. Spur on, comrades! for
we must cover many a league ere we can
venture to light fire or to loosen girth.
CHAPTER XVI.
1t was cold, bleak morning in the be-
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 shell
tered gully. Here and there, through the
dense haze which surrounded them, there
doomed out huge pinnacles and juttfng
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 a 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.
1.-THE Lord Loring Graves your attend
ance in his tent said a young archer to
Alleyne.
The squire found the knight seated upon
a cushion, with his legs crossed in front
of him and a broad ribbon of parchment
laid across his knees, over which he was
porting with frowning brows and pursed
lips.
''It came this morning by the prince
messenger" said he, "and was brought