The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1906-08-10


reach the horses7' asked NOrbury.
1e cannot 90 round TO them, for the
would be upon ye ere We could could com
to them. Think ye that We have hear
enough 70 Chamber down this eliffY''
Had we but rope
There is one here. II is but one hun
dred feet long. and for the rest ye mus
trust to God and 70 your fingers. C:i
you try It. AlleyneY
With all my heart my dear lord, bu
now can | leave you IN such a straitT
Nay. II Is to serve me that We go. An,
YOU. Norbury?'
The silent squire said nothing. but b,
took up the rope and. having examined
i, be tied one end firmly round a project
ing rock Then he cast on his breast
plate, thigh pieces, and greaves, while AL
leyne followed his example
Tell Chandos, or Cayerley, or KnOlles
should the prince have gone forward p
cried Sir Nigel Now may God speed
ye. for We are brave and worthy men.
II was, indeed, task which might make
the heart OF the brayest Sink within him.
The thin cord dangling down the face
OF the brown cliff seemed from above Ia
reach little more than halfway down 1t.
Beyond stretched the rugged rock, wet and
shining, with green tuft here and there
thrusting out from 1t, but little sign OF
ridge or fOOthod. Far below the Jagged
points OF the bonlders brlstled up, dark
and menacing. Norbury tugged thrice
with all his strength upon the cord. and
then lowered himself over the edge, while
hundred anxious faces peered over at
him as he slowly clambered downwards to
the end of the rope. Twice he stretched
out his foot, and twice he failed to reach
the point at which he aimed, but even as
he swung himself for third effort a stone
from a sling buzzed like wasp from
m nd I'M fni
the side of his head. His grasp relaxed,
his feet slipped, and In instant be was
crushed and mangled corpse lpon the
sharp ridges beneath him.
III ] have no better fortune, said AL
leyne, leading sir Nigel aside. II pray
you, my dear lord, that you will give my
humble service TO the Lady Maude, and say
to her that | 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
Aleyne sprang to the rope, and sliding
swiftly down, soon found himself at its
extremity. From above it seemed as
though rope and cliff were well-nigh touch
ing, 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 II was as smooth as glass, with
no resting place where mouse could
stand. Some three feet lower however,
his eye lit upon long Jagged crack which
slanted downwards and this he must reach
II he would save not only his own poor
life, but that of the eight-score men above
him. Yet 1t were madness to spring for
that narrow slit with nought but the wet,
smooth rock to cling to. He swung for a
moment. full of thought, and even as he
hung there another Of the hellish stones
sang through his curls, and struck clip
fprm ba NJ ha III 10 al
a 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: |
then lowering himself as far as he could
go, he swung backwards and forwards UNI
til his hand reached the crack, then he
left the rope and chung to the face of the
cliff Another stone struck him on the
side, and he heard sound like a breaking
stick, with keen stabbing pain which shot L
through his chest Yet 1t was no time now
to think OF pain or ache. There was his
lord and his eight-score comrades, and they
must be plncked from the jaws of death. On
he clambered with his hand shuffling down
the long slopng crack sometimes bearing
all his weight upon his arms, at others
finding some small shelf or tnft on which
10 rest his foot. Would he never pass over
that fifty feet? He dared not look down,
and could but grope slowly UPWARDS, 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
ipon his memory AT last, however, his
'Oot came upon broad restng-place and
le ventured to cast a glance downwards.
Thank God he had reached the highest
II those fatal pnnacles upon which his
somrade had fallen Quickly now he
prank from rock TO rock until his feet
we're on the ground, and he had his hand
tretched out for the horses rein, when
slng-stone struck him on the head, and
le dropped senseless upon the ground
An evil blow 1t was for Alleyne, but a
worse one still for him who struck it,
rhe Spanish singer, seeing the youth lie
lain, and Judging from his dress that he
vas no common man, rushed forward TO
under him, knowing well that the bow
men above him had expended their last
haft He was still three PAGES however, |
rom his victims side when John upon |
he cliff above plucked up a huge boulder,
nd p0lslng 1t for an instant dropped II
Nth fatal aim upon the singer beneath
lin. 1t stuck upon his shoulder, and
urled him, crushing and. screaming, to
he ground, while Alleyne, recalled 70 his
enses by these shri cries in his very
ar, staggered on to his feet, and gazed 4
'ildly about him. His eyes fell upon the
Orses, grazing upon the scanty pasture, r
nd Ia an instant all had come back to 4
Im--his mission, his comrades the need Il
Dr. haste. He was dizzy, sick, faint, but
g must not die, and he must not tarry, "
,r his life meant many lives that day
d an instant he was In his saddle and d
Drung down the valley. Loud rang the IL
Witt chargers hoofs over rock and reef, n
lille the fire flew from the stroke Of iron,
nd the loose stones showered up behind fl
i'm. But his head was whirling round
le blood was gushing from his brow, his b.
nipple, his mouth Ever keener and ID
harper was the deadly pain which shot I'll
ke red-hot arrow through his side. He |
IL that his eye was glazing, his senses al
ipplng from him, his grasp upon the reins
Taxing. Then with one mighty effort, he
lied up all his strength for a single
irfute. STOPPING down. he loosened the ~
bound his knees tightly to m
3 saddle flaps, twisted his hands in the 81
idle, and then, putting the gallant II
,rsa's head for the mountain path, he s.
shed the spurs in and fell forward faint n
y with his face buried In the coarse, n
ack name. n,
Little could be ever remember OF that ms
lid ride. Half conscious. but ever with th
y one thought beating In his mind. he
aided the horse UPWARDS, rushing swift an
down steep ravlnes, over huge bouiders, of
ong the edges of black ahysses. Dim sh
emories he had Of beetling cliffs, OF no
oup of hufs with wondering faces at the ia
ors, or foaming. gathering water, and M
n brlstle OF mountain beeches. Once, Ms
: he had ridden far. he heard behind wi
IA three deep, sullen shouts, which told hi
n that hts comrades had set their faces hi
the foe once more. Then ali was blank,
Mi he woke to find kindly blue English 90