Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-06

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But the brethren answered nothing.
The black horse Of Lozelle grew dim
in the distance Of the moonlit bridge
and vanished beneath the farther arch
way that led TO the outer city. Then q
herald cried, Masouda translating his
words, which another herald echoed
from beyond the gulf:
"Thrice will the trunpets blow. At
the third blast Of the trumpets the
knights shall charge and meet in the
center of the bridge. Thenceforward
they may fight MS 1t pleases them,
ahorse or afoot, with lance, with sword
or with dagger, but to the %vanquished
no mercy will be shown. If he be
brought living from the bridge. living
he shall be cast into the gulf. Hear the
decree of the Al-ie-bal!'
Then Wulf's horse was led forward
to the entrance of the bridge. and from
the farther side was led forward the
horse of Lozelle.
Now from some neighboring tower
pealed out the first long blast Of trum-
pets, and dead silence fell on all the
multitude.
The second blast blew, and Wulf
loosencd the great sword in its scab-
bard.
For the third time the trumpets blew.
and from either end of that bridge, W
hundred PAGES long, the knights flashed
toward each other like living bolts Of
steel. Hollow rang the hoofs of the
horses upon the stoncwork. swifter
,,J cu.iffar fhny Anvy 1pvpr and lpxv-
or bent the knights upon their sad
dies. Now they were near, and now
} they met. The spears seemed to SILVER,
the horses to hustle together on the
narrow way and overhang it's edge,
[ then on came the black horse toward
l the inner city, and on sped Smoke to-
: ward the farther gulf.
"They have passed. They have pass
ed!'' roared the multitude.
! Look. Lozelle approached, Keeling in
his saddle, as we'll he might, for the
helm was torn from his head and blood
r ran from his skull where the lance had
! grazed it.
Soldiers caught the horse and turned
it.
Another helm!" CRIED Lozelle.
NAY" answered Sinan: "yondel
knight has lost his shield. New lances
that is all"
So they gave him a fresh lance. and
presently, at the blast Of the trumpets
again the horses were seen speeding to
gether over the narrow way. They
met, and, 10, Lozelle, torn from his sad
die, but still clinging to the reins, wa.
flung backward. far backward, to fal
on the stonework of the bridge. Down
too, beneath the mighty shock wen
his black horse. a huddled heap, an(
lay there struggling.
"Wulf will fall over him." cried RIOS
amund. But Smoke did not fall. Tn
stallion gathered itself together-th,
moonlight shone so clear that ever,
watcher saw it-and, since stop it coul'
not, leaped straight over the fallel
| black horse-nye. and over the ride
| beyond-and sped on in its stride. The
| the black found its feet again and ga
! Hoped forward to the farther gate, an
| Lozelle also found his feet and turne
to u n
"Stard! Stand. coward" yelled 10
=" 900 voices, and. hearing them, he dre'
his sword and stood.
Within three great strides Wulf dral
ly ged his charger TO its launches, the
~ wheeled it round.
lis Charge him. shouted the multltud'
d. But Wulf remained seated, as thong
unwilling TO attack a horsoless maj
m Next he sprang from his saddle and, az
W companied by his horse Smoke, whic
followed him as a dog follows its mas
ls ter, walked slowly toward Lozclle, a
I'd he walked casting away his lance an
y, dra wing the great cross hilted sword.
IS Wulf had no shield and Lozelle ha
OF no helm-the fight was even. The
crouched opposite each other, tn
lis swords flashed aloft in the mOonligh
from far away came the distant clan
he Of steel, a soft. continual clamor of iro
wv on iron. A blow fell IN Wulf's ma
de who had naught wherewith to guar
n himself, and he staggered back. Al
at other blow, another and another. an
ed back, still back, he reeled-back to tt
ir. edge of the bridge, back till he struc
at the horse that stood behind him, an
resting there n moment, as 1t SCENE
re regained his balance.
nd Then there was a change. Look.
in rushed forward, welding the gre,
,is blade in both hands. The stroke
or upon L.ozelle's shield and seemed
in shear it in two, for in that stiffness a
in could hear the clang Of its upper ha
or as it fell upon the stones. Yes, now
re was Lozelle who rocked and reeled
aye, by st. Cloud, Lozel!e who we
TO- down beneath that mighty blow whi'
ith missed the head, but fell upon h
he shoulder, and lay there like a log t
es. presently the moonlight shone upon h
.be mailed hand stretched upward In
ant prayer for mercy. From housetop al
-ce terrace wall, from soaring gates al
battlements. the multitude Of the pc
NJ pie of the assassins gathered on eth
,of side the gulf broke into O roar tn
beat up the mountain sides like
ed voice of thunder, and the roar shap
lis. itself to these words:
III. Kill him! Kill him! Kill him"
in. Sinan held up his hand, and a sud-
ulf silence fell. Then he, too, screamed
vim his thin voice:
xiii him! He Is conquered"
md But the great Wulf only leaned UP
the cross handle Of his brand and loo