The Elbert County tribune., 1906-02-01
JOAN fHs SS SWORD HAND
lcopyrIght, ls9s. 1900 by s. q. crockett.l

with interest, seeing that they were
men who came, and that one at least
was young.
Fifty knights with white plumes on
their helmets had charged fifty wear
ing black, and the combat still ragged.
THE Blacks have iti' said Des-
sauer, after regarding the melee with
interest. I'VE have come in time to
see the end of the fray. Would that
he had also seen the shock!"
And indeed the Blacks seemed to
have carried all before them. They
we're mostly bigger and stronger built
men, knights of the landward prov
inces, and their horses, great solid
boned Saxon chargers, had by sheer
weight borne their way through the
lighter ranks of the Baltic knights on
the white horses.
Not more than half dozen of these
were now in the saddle, and all over
the field were to be seen black
knights receiving the submission OF
knights whose broken spears and tar
nished plumes showed that they had
succumbed in the charge to superior
weight Of metal. For. so soon as
knight yielded, his steed became the
property of his victorious foe. and he
himself was either carried or limped
as best he could to the pavilion of his
party, there to remove his armour and
send 1t also to the victor-to whom,
in literal fact, belonged the spoils.
OF the half-dozen white knights who
still kept up the struggle, one shone
pre-eminent for dashing valor Set
upon by more than a score of riders.
he still managed to evade them, and
even when all his side had submitted
and he alone remained-at the end of
the lists to which he had been driven,
he made ready for final charge into
the scarce broken array of his foes.
of whom more than twenty remained
still on horseback in the field.
But though his spear struck true in
the middle of his immediate antag-
onist's shield and this opponent went
down, it availed the brave white
knight nothing. For at the same mo-
ment half a score of lances struck
him on the shield. on the breastplate
on the visor bars of his helmet. and
he fell heavily to the earth. Never
theless. scarcely had he touched the
ground when he was again on his feet
Sword in hand, he stood for a mo-
ment unscathed and undaunted, while
his foes. momentarily disordered by
the energy of the charge. reined in
their steeds ere they could return to
the attack.
But at this moment the Princess
Afsarr OF fxaf- ~ fh.a sTt ,ftNfr
Prince, rose in her place and threw
down the truncheon, which in such
cases stops the combat.
THE black knights have won." so
she gave her verdict. "but there is no
need to humiliate or injure a knight
who has fought so well against so
many. Let the white knight come
hither-though he be of the losing
side. His is the reward of highest
honor. Give him steed. that he may
come and receive the need of bravest
in the toulnay!"
The knights of the black were man
ifestly a little disappointed that after
their victory one of their opponents
should be selected for honor. But
there was no appeal from the decision
of the Queen of Love and Beauty.
For that day she reigned alone, with
out council or diet imperial.
The white knight came near and
said something in a low voice. un-
heard by the general crowd to the
Princess.
Il insist she said aloud you
must unhelm, that all may see the
face of him who has won the prize"
Whereat the knight bowed and un-
did his helmet A closely-cropped
fair-haired head was revealed, the
features clearly chiseled and yet of
a massive beauty, the head of mar
BILE emperor.
MY brother-you." cried Margaret
of Courtland in astonishment.
The Ambassador looked curiously
at his secretary. He was standing
with eyes brilliant as those of man
in fever. His face paled even under
it's dusky tan. His lips quivered. He
had Strengthened himself up as brave
and generous men do when they see
deed of bravery done by another. or
like woman who sees the man she
loves publicly honored.
The Prince!" said Johann Pyr-
mont, in voice hoarse and broken;
sit is the Prince himself"
And on his high seat the States
Councillor, Leopold Won Dessauer,
smiled well pleased
After the tournay of the Black
Eagle Leopold Won Dessauer had gone
to bed early. feeling younger and
lighter than he had done for years.
Part of his scheme for theEe northern
provinces of his fatherland consisted
in gradual substitution of few strong
states for many weak ones. For this
reason he smiled when he saw the
eyes of his secretary shining like
f'ars.
Won Dessauer was lying awake and