Churchill standard. (Fallon, Nev) 1903-1908, 1906-08-18

The leaders sat amongS the poN-
wood, and took counsel together as to
what they should do; while from be
low there surged up the buzz of voices,
the shouting. the neighing of horses,
and all the uproar of a great camp.
What boots it to waite said Sir
William FELTON,. Let us ride down
upon their camp before they discover
us"
And so say l, cried the Scottish
earl; for they do not know that there
is any enemy within thirty long
leagues of them"
For my part" said Sir Simon Bur
ley, I think that it is madness, for
you cannot hope to rout this great ar
my; and where are you to go and
are you to do when they have turned
npon You?"
Nay" said Sir Nigel. 4 have a plan
by which We may attempt some
small deed upon them. and yet. by the
help of God. may be able to draw off
again; which. as Sir Simon Burley
hath said, would be scarce possible in
any other way
How then. Sir Nigel" asked sew
eral voices.
We shall lie here all day, for amid
mis- Drushwood it is i'll for them to see
us. Then when evening comes we shall
sally out upon them and see if we may
not gain some honorable advancement
from them. We shall nave nightfall
to cover us when we draw off SO that
We may make our way back through
the mountains. | would station a
score of archers here in the pass, with
all our pennons iutting forth from the
rocks, and as many nakirS and drums
and bugles as we have with US. SO that
those who follow US in the fading
light, may think that the whole army
Of the prince is upon them, and fear
to 90 further. What think you of my
plan, Sir simon
BY my trothi | hin very well of
it," cried the prudent old commander.
If four hundred men must needs run
a tilt against sixty thousand. | cannot
see how they can do 1t better or more
slfely.n
And So say l." cried FELTON,, hearth
ly. But | wish the day were over, TOR
it viii be an i'll thing for US if they
chance To light upon us
The words We're scarce out of his
mouth when there came a clatter OF
loose stones, the sharp elink of t~rottins
hoofS, and a dark-faced cavalier,
mounte upon a white horse, burst
through the bushes and rode swiftly
down the valley from the end which
was farthest from the Spanish camp.
Lightly armed, with his ViZor open ard
Il hawk perched upon his left wrisi
he looked about MIN with the careless
air of a man who is bent wholly upon
pleasure, and unconscious of the pos
sibility of danger. Suddenly, however.
his eyes lit upon the fierce faces which
glared out at him from the brushwood.
With a cry of terror. he thrust his
spurs into his horses sides. and dash
ed for the narrow opening of the gorge.
For a m ii seemed as though he
would nave reached IL, for he had
trampled over or dashed aside che ar
cheers who threw themselves in his
way; but Horde John seized MIN by
the foot in his grasp of iron and
dragged him from the saddle, while
two others caught the frightened horse.
"Ho, no. roared the great archer.
How many cows wilt buy my mother,
if | set thee free
Hush that bulls bellowingt' cried
Sir Nigel impatiently. Bring the man
here. BY ST. PAUL it is not the first
time that we have met. for, If mis-
take not. it Is Don Diego Alvarez. who
was once at the princes court
1T is indeed l." said the Spanish
knight. Il trust that | am now the
prisoner OF some honorable knight or
gentleman
You are the prisoner OF the man Who
took YOU, Sir Diego" answered Sir Nj
gel. And l may tell YOU that better
men than either you or / have found
lll'lAi6fAA - pIIoIN g" ~ Ao'AANA -
the hands of the archers OF England
What ransom, then, does he de
mand2 asked the ~Spaniard.
Big John scratched his red head and
grinned in high delight when the ques-
ton was ~propounded to him. Tell
him" said he, that | shall have ten
cows and a bull too, II IL be but u lit
tie one. Also a dress of blue sendall
for mother and a red one for Joan, with
i've acres OF pasture-land, two sCythes.
and Il hne new grindstone. Likewise
d small house. with stalls for the cows
and thirty-siN gallons of beer for the
thirsty weather
Tut. tut" said Sir Nigel. laughing.
All these things may be had for mon
ely; and | think, Don Diego. that five
thousand crowns is not too much for
so renowned a knight
TT shall be duly paid him
For some days We must keep you
with US; and | must crave leave also
to use your shield, Your armor and
your horse. | have need of il this day,
but il shall be duly returned to You.
Set guards, Awkward. with arrow on
string. At either end of the pass, for
ii may happen that some other CaNa-
liers may visit US ere the time be
come
All day the little band of English
men lay in the sheltered gorge, look
ing down upon the vast most OF their
unconscious enemies. The sun had
sunk chine a cloud-bank in the west
before Sir Nigel at last gave word that
the men should resume their arms and
have their horses ready. He had him
self thrown off his armor. and had
dressed himself from head to foot in
the harness OF the captured Spaniard.
Sir william said he, 1T is my opin-
ion to attempt a small coed. and l ask
YOU therefore hat YOU viii lead this
outfail upon the camp For me. | Will
ride into their camp With my squire and
two arcbers. 7 pray YOU to watch me-
and to ride forth when | am come
among the tents. You win leave TWEEN,
~ men behind here, and as We 49,
this morning. and you Will ride back
here after YOU have ventured az iar
az seems good 10 von.'
81 will do as you order. Nigel: but
what Is that YOU propose to do
you will see mon. and indeed II is
but a trifinr matter. Aleyne, YOU
will come with me-. ard lead a spare
-. -. .l. a-tIIn 7 will have the