New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-11


He was reused by a sympathetic hand upon his
shoulder and the of his young prisoner in his
"Pesfel" said he They have some of your birds
in their cage have they not? What them my
friend Keep your heart high! Is it the chance of
war, to-day to them to morrow to thee, and death
at last for us all? And vet | had rather they were
in any hands than those OF Oliver the Butcher.
BY Saint Paul, cannot suffer it, cried Nigel
distractedlv This man has come with me from my
own home. He has stood between me and death
before now 1t goes my very heart that he should
cali upon in vain l pray YOU, RaouI, to use
YOUR wits for mine all curdlcd IN my head
Tell me what l should do and how l may bring him
help
Tie Frenchman shrugged his shoulders. AS
easy to get a lamb unscathed out of a wolves lair
as a prisoner safe from La Brohinitre. Nay, Nigel!
whittier do YOU go: Have YOU indeed taken leave
of YOUR wits,
The Squire had spurred his horse down the hill
side and never halted until he was within bow-shot
OF the gate. The French prisoner followed hard
behind him, with buzz OF reproaches and eXpostu-
lations
hope to do then2 Would YOU carry the castle with
Your own hands, Halt, man, halt, in the name OF
the Virgin,
But Nigel had no plan in his head and only obeyed
the fevered impulse 20 do something to his
thoughts. He paced his horse up and down, waving
his spear and shouting insults and challenges to
the garrison. Over the high wall a hundred Jeering
faces looked down upon him. SO rash and wild was
his action that it seemed to those within to mean
some trap, - the drawbridge still held high
and none ventured forth to seize him \ few long
range arrows battered on the rocks and then with
a deep booming sound a huge stone, hurled from
a mangonel. sang over the head OF the two Squires
and crashed into splinters amongst the boulders
behind them
The Frenchman seized Nigers bride and forced
him farther from the gateway. BY the dear Nr-
q: I'm he erie are o L.
about my ears, vet l go back alone, SO it is
very clear, my crazy Comrade, that YOU must come
also. Now we are beyond their reach But see, my
friend Nigel, who those who crown the
height"
The sun had sunk behind the western ridge,
but the glowing sky was fringed at its lower edge
by a score of ruddy twinking points y body of
horsemen showed hard and black upon the bare
hill Then they dipped down the slope into the
valley, whilst band Of footmen followed
lehnd
They are my people" cried Nigel joyously,
Com. my friend hasten that may take
counsel what we shall do
SIT Robert knoles rode bow-shot in front of his
men, and his brow was as black as night. Beside
him, with cresttalen face, his horse bleeding his
armor dinted and sOiled the hOt-headed
knight Sir James Ashley. fierce discussion ragged
between them.
Il have done my devoir as best I might" said
Astlev Sc Alone | had ten of them sword
point. l know not how l have lived to tell it.
What is Your dcvoir to me: Where are my
thirty bowmen;" cried knoes in bitter wrath.
Ten lie dead upon the ground and twenty
worse than dead in vondcr castle. And all because
YOU must needs show all men how bold YOU are, and
ride into bushment such a child could see,
Alas for folly that | should have
trusted such a YOU with the handling OF mem"
By God Sir Robert, YOU shall answer to me
for those Words!" cried Ashley with a choking
voice. Never has man dared to speak to a
YOU have. done this