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

up yonder track, steep and rough as it is,
think that We might gain the valley be-
yond. Then on to the prince, and tell
him how we fare
But, my fair lord, how can we hope to
reach the horses?' asked Norbury.
eye cannot go round to them, for they
would be upon We ere We could could come
o them. Think We that. We have heart
enough to Chamber down this cliff?'
Had we but a rope"
'There is one here. 1t is but one hun
ired feet long, and for the rest We must
rust to God and to your fingers. Can
you try it, AlleyneF'
with all my heart, my dear lord but
how can leave you in such a strait?''
''Nay, it is to serve me that We go. And
you, Norbury?'
The silent squire said nothing, but he
ook up the rope, and, having examined
t, he tied one end firmly round a project
ing rock. Then he cast off his breast
plate, thigh pieces, and greaves, while Al
eyne followed his example.
Tell Chandos, or Calverley, or Knolles,
should the prince have gone forward"
cried Sir Nigel. ''Now may God speed
be, for ye are brave and worthy men,
1t was, indeed, a task which might make
he heart Of the bravest sink within him.
The thin cord dangling down the face
bf the brown cliff seemed from above to
each little more than halfway down it.
Beyond stretched the rugged rock, wet and
shining, with a green tuft here and there
Trusting out from it, but little sign of
Ridge or foothold. Far below the jagged
points of the boulders bristled up, dark
and menacing. Norbury tugged thrice
with all his strength upon the cord, and
hen lowered himself over the edge, while
hundred anxious faces peered over at
him as he slowly clambered downwards to
he end Of the rope. Twice he stretched
but his foot, and twice he failed to reach
he point at which he aimed, but even as
be swung himself for third effort stone
rom a sling buzzed like a wasp from
mid the rocks and struck him full upon
he side of his head. His grasp relaxed,
bis feet slipped, and In an instant be was
crushed and mangled corpse upon the
harp ridges beneath him.
eff have no better fortune,'' said AL
eyne, leading Sir Nigel aside. ST pray
you, my dear lord, that you will give my
humble service to the Lady Maude, and say
TO her that 1 was ever her true servant
and most unworthy cavalier"
The old knight said no word, but he put
hand on either shoulder, and kissed his
squire, with the tears shining in his eyes.
Alleyne sprang to the rope, and sliding
swiftly down, soon found himself at its
Extremity. From above it seemed as
hough rope and cliff were well-nigh touch
ng, but now, when swinging hundred feet
down, the squire found that he could scarce
reach the face of the rock with his foot,
and that it was as smooth as glass, with
ho resting-place where mouse could
stand. Some three feet lower, however,
bis eye lit upon long jagged crack which
Blanted downwards, and this he must reach
f he would save not only his own poor
life, but that of the eight-score men above
him. Yet it were madness to spring for
hat narrow slit with nought but the wet,
Bmooth rock to cling to. He swung for a
moment, full of thought, and even as he
hung there another of the hellish stones
Bang through his curls, and struck a clip
from the face of the cliff. Up he clambered
few feet, drew up the loose end after
him, ensuing his belt, held on with knee
and with elbow while he spliced the long
Tough leathern belt to the end of the cord:
hen lowering himself as far as he could
10, he swung backwards and forwards I'M
Fin his hand reached the crack, then he
left the rope and chung to the face Of the
eliff. Another stone struck him on the
hide, and he heard sound like a breaking
Btick, with keen stabbing pain which shot
through his chest. Yet it was no time now
to think of pain or ache. There was his
ord and his eight-score comrades, and they
must be plucked from the jaws of death. On
be clambered, with his hand shuffling down
The long sloping crack, sometimes bearing
Ill his weight upon his arms, at others
hiding some small shelf or tuft on which
TO rest his foot. Would he never pass over
that fifty feet? He dared not look down,
and could but grope slowly EDWARDS, his
FACE to the cliff, his fingers clutching, his
feet scraping and feeling for a support.
Every vein and crack and nothing of that
face of rock remained forever stamped
upon his memory. At last, however, his
foot came upon a broad resting-place and
be ventured to cast a glance downwards.
Thank God! he had reached the highest
bf those fatal pinnacles upon which his
comrade had fallen. Quickly now he
sprank from rock to rock until his feet
were on the ground, and he had his hand
Stretched out for the horses rein, when
sling-stone struck him on the head, and
be dropped senseless upon the ground.
An evil blow it was for Alleyne. but a
worse one still for him who struck it.
The Spanish singer, seeing the youth lie
slain, and judging from his dress that he
was no common man, rushed forward to
piunder him, knowing well that the bow
men above him had expended their last
shaft He was still three PAGES, however,
from his victims side when John upon
the cliff above plucked up huge boulder,
and, posing it for an instant, dropped 1t
with fatal aim upon the Singer beneath
him. 1t stuck upon his shoulder, and
hurled him, crushing andI screaming, to
the ground, while Alleyne, recalled to his
senses by these shrill cries in his very
ear, staggered on to his feet, and gazed
wildly about him. His eyes fell upon the
horses, grazing upon the scanty pasture,
and in an instant all had come back to
him-his mission, his comrades, the need
for haste. He was dizzy, sick, faint, but
he must not die, and he must not larry,
for his life meant many lives that day.
In an instant he was in his saddle and
sprung down the valley. Loud rang the
swift chargers hoofs over rock and reef,
while the fire flew from the stroke of iron,
and the loose stones showered up behind
him. But his head was whirling round,
the blood was gushing from his brow, his
temple, his mouth. Ever keener and
sharper was the deadly pain which shot
like red-hot arrow through his side. He
felt that his eye was glazing, his senses
LIZ. Il r,inn