Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-06-14

her pocket II was capacious pocket.
and the muzzle of the weapon bored
dehantly into a timid powder rag that
lay on the bottom. The little leather
purse from which il escaped had its
silver lips opened ms If In broad grin
OF derislon, revelng in the plight OF
the channels The guides hand was Mt
once firm and gentle, his stride bold,
vet easy. His rakish hat, with its ag-
gressive red feather, lowered q full
head above Beverly's Partisan violets.
Have you no home at nll-no house
in which to Sleep" Beverly asked.
II live In n castle of air" said he,
waving his hand gracefully. Il sleep
in the house Of my fathers"
you poor fellow" cried Beverly
pityingly. He laughed and absently
patted the hlt 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 q 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. Cnconsciously her thoughts
went over to the forest of Arden and
the woodland home of Rosalind, as she
had imagined II to be Soon there
came to her ears the swish OF waters.
as Of some turbulent river hurrying
by. lnstlnctlvely she drew back, and
her eyes were set with alarm upon tue
black wall of night ahead. Ietlve had
spoken more than once OF this wilder
ness Many an unlucky traveller had
been lost forever In its businesses.
ct Ia the river. your highness There
is no danger. will not lead you into
g." he said. trife roughly. we are
low in the valley, and there are
marshes yonder when the river Ia In
its natural bed. The foods have cover
ed the low grounds. and there IS tor
rent coming down from the hills. Here
we are, your hghncss This IS the Inn
of the Hawk and Raven
He bowed and pointed with his hat
TO the sinoldering fire short distance
ahead. They had turned bend In the
ovcrhnnging elf and were very close
TO the retreat before she saw the glow.
Tho fire was in the open air aud di-
recty in front OF n deep cleft In the
rocky background. Judging by the
sound the river could not he more than
! 200 feet away. Men came up with
! lanterns md others piled brush upon
! the fire. In very short time the glen
was weirdly illuminated 10y the dane
/ Ing flames. From her scat on the huge
log Beverly was thus enabled to survey
a 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, cvi
IDENTIFY the couches OF these homeless
men All about were huge trees. and
in the direction OF the river the grass
grew higher and then gave place K
reeds. The foliage above was so dense
thnt the moon and stars were Invisible
There was deathly stiffness in the air
The very loneliness was so appalling
thnt Beverly's poor little heart was IL
] 1
sat nenr by, had not spoken since leav
ing the coach. but her eyes were ex
pressively active.
The tall leader stood near the tir'
conversing with half dozen Of his fol
lowers. Miss Calhoun'S eyes hnall,
rested upon this central figure in I'M
strange picture. He was attired i'll
dark gray uniform that reminded he
oddly of the dragon choruSes in tn
comic operas at home. Tho garments
while torn and soiled. were well hitting
His shoulders were broad and square
his hips narrow. his legs long an'
-trais ht. There was an air OF impu
deut grace about him that Went vel
with his life and profession.
Surely here was n careless free lane
upon whom life weighed lightly, Will
death stood afar off and despairec
The light of the fire brought his CLEAN
ing face into bold relief for his ha
was off. Black and thick was his hail
rumpled and apparently uncared fol
The face was lean. smooth and strong
with a devil care curve at the col
ners of the mouth. Beverly found bel
self lsmenting the fact that such an in
terestinR face should be married by a
ugly black patch, covering she kneN
not what manner of defect. AS for III
rest OF them, they were grim con
pany Some were young and beardles'
others were old and grizzly, but a
were nctive, alert and strong III
leader appeared to be the only one !
the party who could speak and under
stand the English language AS BeN
erly sat and watched his virile, moci
ing face and studied his graceful move
ments she found herself wonderin
how an ignorant, homeless wandere
in the hills could be so poetic and S
cultured az this fellow seemed TO be,
} Three or four men. who were unmi
taksbly Of lower order than the
companions, set about preparing a SUI
per. Others unhitched the tired horse
. and led them off toward the river Tw
! dashing young fellows carried the Sc,
cushions under the rocky canopy an
constructed an elaborate couch for II
3 princess" The chief, with his ow
bands, soon began the construction {
I. a small chamber in this particular 90
Q ler Of the cave near the opening III
walls OF the chamber were formed (
B. carriage robes and blankets, cloaks an
y oak branches.
THE guest chamber, your highness