The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-08-10

7
cealment with his three companions
behind him. Alleyne leading his mas
ter's own stee6 by the bride So many
| small parties of French and Spanish
horse were sweeping hither and thitheI
that the small band attracted little
notice, and making its way at a gentle
/ trot across the plain, they came as far
! hindrance. On and on they pushed
/ past the endless lires 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 sudden there
broke out wild huhbub from a dis
tant portion OF the carp with screams
and war-cries and all the wild tumult
OF battle. At the sound soidic-- ZANE
rushing from their tents knights
shouted loudly for their squires. and
there was mad turmoil on every hand
OF bewildered men and plunging horses.
Al the royal tent a crowd of gorgeous
" 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 or the alarm. A man at-arms on
either side of the doorway were the
sole protectors OF the royal dwelling
II have come for the king" whisper
cd Sir Nigel; "and. by Saint Prul
~uet back with us or must hi
here"
Alleyne and Awkward 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 nm 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
or steel. and then the two emerged once
more, their swords ard forearms red
dened with blood, while John bore over
his shoulder the senseless body OF man
whose gray snrcoat adorned with the lions
and towers OF CASTLE, proclaimed him to
belong to the royal house. A crowd of
white-faeed sewers and pages swarmed Mt
their heels, those behind pushing forwards
while the foremost shrank back from the
fierce faces and reeklng weapons of the
Adventures. 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 reiened
among the SpaniartN, for Sir William
FELTON, and his men had swept through
half their camp, leaving long litter Of the
dead and dying to mark their course. I'M
certain who were their attackers, and UNI |
able to tell their English enemies from |
their newly-arrived Breton allies, the |
Spanish knights rode wildly hither and
thlther 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.
md they were all back In their gorge,
while their pursuers fell back before the
rolling Of the English drums and blare
trnnn vhf 70 tt,nl
that the whole army Of the prince was
ibout to emerge from the mountain
passes.
by my soul! Nigel" cried Sir Oliver,
what have we here?"
1T il prisoner whom have taken,
md In soOth, as he came from the royal
ent and wears the royal arms upon his
upon, l trust that he IS the King OF
spain"
,anlons, crowding round In amazement.
NAY, Sir Nigel said FELTON,, peering
It the prisoner through the uncertain
light. II have twice seen Henry of
and certes this man In no
way resembles him.
WHO are you. feIlowT' he added In
spanish, ''and how Is 1t that you dare
o wear the arms of Cashier
The prisoner was but recovering the
which had been squeezed
rom him by the grip Of Horde John.
If II please you,' he answered al and
line others are the body-squires of the
ing. and must ever wear his arms, so
$ TO shield him from even such perlls
s have threatened him this night. The
ing is at the tent of the brave Du Guesc-
In, where he will sup to night. But ! am
caballero OF Aragon, Don Sancho Pene- {
Osa, and, though / be no king, / am yet
eady to pay fitting price for my ram
om.' Ii
by Saint Paul ] win not touch your ,
DID, cried Sir Nigel. Go back to your !
laster and give him greeting from Sir !
Jigel Loring Of Twynham Castle, telling |.
Inn that ] had hoped to make his better
cquaintance this night, and that If
ave disordered his tent, 1t was but In !
~ eagerness TO know so famed and cour- !
aous knight. Spur on. comrades! for
re must cover many league ere we can
enture TO light fire or TO loosen girth.
CHAPTER XVI Fl
Ii was a cold, bleak morning In the be-
inning of March, and the mist was drift
X Ia dense rolling clouds through the
asses of the Cantabrian mountains. The
Company had passed the night In a shell
sred gully. Here and there, through the
ense haze which surrounded them, there !
'omed out huge pinnacles and jutting I
builders Of rock: while high above the =
"a OF vapor there lowered up one gigantic !
aak, with the pink glow of the early sun !,
line upon its snow-caDped head.
The camp was loud with laughter and
erriment, for a messenger had ridden In
ON the prince with words Of heart-stir- :
ng praise for what they had done. and :
18th orders that they should still abide in !
lie forefront of the army. =
The Lord Loring Graves your attend
nee In his tent, said young archer to j
lleyne. !
The squire found the knight seated upon II
cushion. with his legs crossed In front el
him and broad ribbon OF parchment b
i'd across his knees, over which he was 81
ring with frowning brows and pursed a
Ds. II
1T came this morning by the princes ii
essenger, said he, ''and was brought !,
ON England by Sir John Fallislee. who
new come from Sussex Z u
AlIeyne turned to the letter, and. as hts Y
es rested upon 1t, HIS face turned pale :
ID cry Of surprise and grief burst from y
$ lips. II
What thenT' asked . knight, peering II
az him auxlousiv. 'tThere is noughf "
Mss with the Lady Mary or with the y
IT Is my brother-my poor unhappy v
other cried Alleyne with HIS hand n
HIS brow. HE Is dead n
BY Saint Pauls I Save never heard o.
at he had shown SO much love for Won g
at you should mourn him So -
Yet he was my brother-she only kith Y
kin that ] had upon earth Alasl slasi = y
; has been slain and slain. fear, u