The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1906-05-17

desired.
Down with him; seize the prlncessP'
said voice. 1t was that OF Georgios,
no longer humble with u mcrchrnss
obsequIous whine. but speaking in
tones Of cold coam nd ana In ArdJIc.
For moment the syarthy mob hung
back, as well they might In ftce uf that
glltterlng sworG. ;ata wa Il ely Of
"salah-el.dln, Salah.ed-inr on lllcy
surged with flashing spcab. nnl sclm.
tiers. The oyerthrowi az wa in
front Of them. and one lcaprd upon It's
edge, but as he leaped the old knight.
all his years and sickness forgotten
now, sprang forward ana struck down.
ward 50 berry Il G.JE lhI, u tic
darkling mouth Of the passrgc The
sparks streamed out and where the
Saracen's head had been appeared his
heels. Back Glr Andrew stepped again
to win space for his sword play. while
round the ends Of the table broke two
fierce faced men, At one OF them Rosa
mund shot with her bow, and tie an.
row pierced his thigh, but as he fell he
struck with his keen sciln tef and ShJre
the end Off the bow, so that 1t was use.
less The second man caught his foot
In the bar of the oak chair which ha
did not see, and went down prone,
while Sir Andrew, taking no heed Of
him, rushed with a shout at the crowd
who followed and, catching their blows
upon his shield. rained down others so
desperate that, being hampered by
their very number they gave before
him and staggered back along the pas.
sage.
Guard your right, fatherV cried Ro.
amund. He sprang round to see the
saracen who had fallen on his feet
again. At him he went. nor did the
man wait the onset, but turned to fly,
only to find his death, for the great
sword caught him between neck and
shoulders. Now voice cried:
I'VE make poor sport with this old
lion, and lose men. Keep clear Of his
claws and whelm him with spear
casts"
But Rosamund, who understood their
tongue, sprang In front of him and an
swered In Arabic;
AYE, through my breast, and go tell
that tale to Saladlnw
Then, clear and calm, was heard the
command Of Georglos. "He whoharms
hair of the princess dies. Take them
both living II you may but lay no
hand on her. Stay, let us talk"
Rosamund touched her father and
pointed to the man who lay upon the
floor with an arrow through his thigh.
He was struggling to his knee. raising
the heavy sclmlter In his hand. Sir
Andrew lifted bis sword as husband
man lifts a stick to kill a rat. then let It
fall again, saying;
81 fight not with the wounded. Drop
that steel and get you back to your own
FOLK"
The fellow ODeyed him-yeS. and even
touched the floor with his forehead In
salaam as he crawled away, for he
knew that he had been given hts life
and that the deed was noble toward
him who had planned towards
stroke. Then Georglos stepped for
ward, no longer the same Georglos who
had sold poisoned wine and eastern
broideries, but a proud looking, high
browed Saracen clad in the mail which
he wore beneath his merchants robe,
and In place of the cruclflx wearing on
bis breast a great star shaped Jewel,
the emblem of his house and rank.
."Slr Andrew" he said, "bearken to
me, pray you Noble was that act"
and he pointed to the wounded man
being dragged away by his fellows,
land noble has been your defense, well
worthy Of your lineage and your knight
hood. II is tale that my MASTER" and
he bowel as he said the word, will
owe to bear II It pleases Allah that we
-eturn to him In safety. Also you win
hink that have played knave's trick
lpon you, overcoming the might OF
hose gallant knights, Sir Goodwin and |
Sir Wulf, not with sword blows, but
With drugged wine. and treating all
your servants In like fashion, since not
,ne Of them can shake ar It's fumes
before tomorrow's light SO, Indeed,
I Is a very scuryy trick, which l shall
remember with shame to my life's end.
Yet bethlnk you how we stand, and for
give us. We are but little company
If men In your great country, hidden,
rs It We're. In a den Of lions, who, II
hey saw us, would stay us without
mercy. That. indeed is a small thing,
'or what are our lives, Of which your
sword has taken 1.-THE, and not only
yours but those of the twin brethren
IN the quay by the waterT