The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1906-07-12

~ EE
Pulf aDheeled hts horse on the ndrrOto
tgdll.
ter by lines of guards. On the fat
rooted houses also they were crowded
thick as swarming bees, on the cir
cling walls and on the battlements that
protected the far end of the bridge and
the houses Of the outer city. Before
the bridge was low gateway, and
upon Its roof sat the Al-je-bal, clad in
his scarlet robe of festival, and by his
side, the moonlight cleaning on her
Jewels, Rosamund In front, draped In
rich garment, dagger Of gems In
her dark hair, stood the Interpreter or
mouth" MasOuda, and behind were
dals and guards.
The brethren rode to the space be-
fore the arch and halted, salutlng with
their pennoned spears. Then from the
farther side advanced another process
sion, which, opening, revealed the
knight Lozelle riding on his great
black horse, and huge man and fierce
he seemed In HIS armOr.
"What" he shouted glowering at
them. "Am to fight one against twO1
Is this your chiyalryH"
"Nay, nay, Sir Traitor" answered
Wulf. "Nay, nay, betrayer of Chris
tlan maids to the power OF the heath
EN- dog. You have fought Goodwin
Now It Is the turn Of Wulf. XIII Wulf
and Goodwin remains. XIII Goodwin
and God remains"
Lozelle heard and, seemed to go mad
with rage or fear, or both.
lord slnan," he shouted In Arabic
"thls is murder. Am l, who have
done you 80 much service, to be butch
cred for your pleasure by the lovers
Of that woman whom you would honor
with the name Of wlfeT
sInan heard and stared at him with
dull, angry eyes.
ave. you may stare" went on the
maddened Lozele, but 1t is true-they
are her lovers, not her brothers Would
men take so much pains for sisters
sake, think you? Would they swim
into this net Of yours for a sisters
sakeT
slnan held up his hand for silence.
'Iet the lots be cast" he said, for
whatever these men are, this hght
must 20 on, and 1t shall be fair"
SO dai, standing by himself. cast
lots upon the ground and, having read
them. announced that Lozelle must run
the first course from the farther side
of the bridge Then one took his bride
TO lead him across. AS he passed the
brethren he grinned in their faces and
said:
AT least this Is sure, you also look
your last upon the moon. ! am
avenged already. He Will XIII you
both before her eyes to whet his Ape
tlte."
But the brethren answered nothing.
The black horse Of Lozelle grew dim
IN the distance Of the moonllt bridge
and vanished beneath the farther arch
way that led to the outer city Then
herald cried, Masouda translating DIE
words. which another heraiu echoeU
from beyond the gulf;
"Thrice will the trumpets blow AZ
the third blast of the trumpets tne
knights shall charge and meet In the
center of the bridge. Thenceforward
they may fight as it pleases them
aborse or afoot with lance, with sword
or with dagger, but to the vanquishec
no mercy will be shown. II he b.
brought living from the bridge, livinl
he shall be cast into the gulf. Hear thu
decree Of the Al-ie-balP
Then wulfs horse was led forward
to the entrance of the bridge, and from
the farther side was led forward tn
horse of Lozelle.
Now from some neighboring towe
pealed out the first long blast Of trum
pets. and dead silence fell on all tn
multitude.
The second blast blew, and Wul