Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1906-11-30
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lHe llSnJ Ieil on those IN the boat,
and their faces looked strangely white
in that illuminated circle, surrounded
as it was by a pent house of tense
blackness, black pines. black water,
black sky
Follow me-" said the woman, in a
deep, rich voice-a voice whose tones
thrilled those who heard them to
their hearts, so rich and low were
some of the notes.
Joan of the Sword Hand rose to her
feet.
81 am the Duchess of Hohenstein.
and l do not leave this boat till
know in what place | am, and who
this may be that cries 'Followi' 10 the
daughter of Henry the Lionl"
The tall woman turned without bow
ing and looked at the girl.
Il am the mother of Maurice Won
Lynar, and this is the Isle Rugen,"
she said simply, as if the answer were
all-sufficient
The woman in the crimson cloak
waited for Joan to be assisted from
the boat, and then, without a word of
greeting, led the way up a little sand
ed path to a gate which opened in a
high stone wall. Through this she
admitted her guests, whereupon they
found themselves in an enclosure
with towers and battlements rising
dimly all round.
Then came long, grey building,
another door, low and creaking heav-
lily on unaccustomed hinges, a sudden
burst of light, and To- the wanderers
found themselves within a lighted
hall, wherein were many stands of
arms and armor, mingled with skins
of wild animals, wide-spreading, many
tined antlers, and other records of
the chase.
The woman who had been their
guide now set down her lantern and
allowed the hood of her cloak to slide
from her head. Werner and his two
male companions, the captains of Plas-
senburg, fell back a little at the appa-
rition. They had expected to see
some bag or crone, fit companion of
their wordless guide.
Instead. woman stood before them.
not girlish certainly, nor yet in the
first bloom of her youth, but glorious
even among fair women by reason of
the ripeness of her beauty
The mother of that young paladin,
their Sparhawk? 1t seemed impossi-
Bile. This woman was too youthful,
too fair, too bountiful in her gracious
beauty to be the mother of such a
tense young yew-bow as Maurice Won
Lynar.
my lady JOAN" she said, in the
same thrilling voice, my son has sent
me word that till a certain great dan
ger is overpast you are to abide with
me here on the Isle Rugen. l live
alone, save for this one man, dumb
Max Ulrich, long since cruelty manned
at the hands of his enemies. | can
offer you no suite of attendants be-
yond those you bring with you. Our
safety depends on the secrecy of our
abode, as for many years my own life |
has done. | ask you, therefore, to re- !
spect our privacy, as also to impose !
he same upon your soldiers"
The Duchess Joan bowed slightly.
AS you doubtless know, have not |
,ome hither of my own free will"
she answered haughtily; but I thank
Tou, madam, for your hospitality.
Rest assured, that the secrecy of your
lwelling shall not be endangered by
mel"
Then with large gesture the elder
Indicated the way up the broad stair
ase, and throwing her own cloak
ompletely off she caught it across
er arm as it dropped and so fol-
owed Joan out of sight.
Instinct was so strong that, as soon
S the women had withdrawn them
elves upstairs, the three captains
tarted towards the door to make the
ound of the defences. The Wordless
Ian accompanied them unasked. The
quare enclosure in which they found J
lemselveSseemed liker an old fortified
irmhouse of grange than a regular
astle, though the walls we're thick
S those of any fortress, being loop
oiled for musketry, and Tin those
avs of bombards few and heavy cap
BILE of standing siege in good ear
est against small army.
The three captains returned through
lie hall into long dining room vault
| above with beams of solid oak.
urtains were drawn close all about
lie walls. In the recesses were many ]
ands of arms of good and recent
instruction, and opening a cupboard
it'll the freedom of a man at arms, l
oris saw ramrods. powder, and shot !
ranged in order. as neatly as though {
: had done 1t himself, than which l
} better could be said