The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-03-31

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The stallion Sprang out ocide and clear
it was narrowest, as they went tearing
the cloaks from their shoulders and,
since they had none, throwing them
over their left arms to serve as buc-
klers.
The band cursed sullenly; only their
captain gave an order to his spOkeS-
man, who cried aloud:
"Cut them down and to the boat!
We shall take her before she reaches
shore or browns"
For a moment they wavered, for the
tall twin warriors who barred the way
had eyes that told of wounds and
death. Then with a rush they came,
scrambling over the rough stones, but
here the causeway was SO narrow that
while their strength lasted two men
were as good as twenty, nor, because Of
the mud and water, could they be got
at from either side. So after all it was
but two to two, and the brethren were
the better two. Their long swords
flashed and smote, and when Wulf's
was lifted again it shone red, and a
man fell with a heavy splash into the
waters of the creek and wallOwed
there till he died. Godwin's foe was
down also and, as it seemed, sped.
Then at muttered word, not waiting
to be attacked by others, the brethren
sprang forward. The huddled mob in
front of them saw them come and
shrank back, but before they had gone
q yard the swords were at work be-
hind. They swore strange oaths; they
caught their feet among the rocks and
rolled upon their faces. In their con-
fusion three of them were pushed into
the water, where two sank in the mud
and were drowned, the third only drag
ging himself ashore. while the rest
made good their escape from the cause
way But two had been cut down and
three had fallen, for whom there was
no escape. They strove to rise and
fight, but the linen masks tapped about
their eyes so that their blows went
wide, while tine long swords Of the
brothers smote and smote again upon
their helms and harness as the ham,
mers of smiths smite upon an anvil
until they rolled over silent and stir
less.
Back" said Goodwin, "for here the
road is wide and they will get behind
u.s.
So back they moved slowly, with
their faces to the foe, stopping just in
front of the first man whom Goodwin
had seemed to kill and who lay face
upward with arms outstretched.
$50 far we have done WELL" said
Wulf. with a short laugh. Are you
hurt?"
may" answered his brother. "but do
not boast till the battle is over. for
many are left and they will come on
thus no more. Pray God they have nc
spears or bows"
Then he turned and looked behind
him. and there, far from the shore now,
swan the gray horse steadily, and there
upon it's back sat Rosamund.
Goodwin was right. Although their
leader commanded them in a stern
voice. the band sank from the reach of
those awful swords and instead sought
for stones to hurl at them. But here
lay more mud than pebbles. and the
rocks Of which the causeway was built
were too heavy for them to lift. Now,
after some while the man called mas
ter spoke through his lieutenant. and
certain of them ran into the thorn thick
ct. and thence appeared again bearing
the long oars of the boat.
Their counsel Is to batter us down
with the oars. What shall we do now,
brother?" asked Goodwin.
"What we can" answered Wulf. "1t
matters little If Rosamund is spared
by the waters, for they will scarcely
take her now
As he spoke Wulf heard q sound be
hind him, and Of sudden Goodwin
threw up his arms and sank to his
knees. Round he sprang. and there
upon his feet stood that man whom
/ they had thought dead. and in his hand
bloody sword AT him leaped Wulf
and SO fierce were the blows he smote
that this time he fell never to stir
! again. Then he looked at his brother
| and saw that the blood was running
down his fsce and binding him.
| ''S,re Yourself. Wulf, for am sped.
mrrmured Goodwin.
Nay or You could not speak" And
he cast his arm round him and kisset:
him on the brow.