The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-21
Fair Margaret Casten
BY II. RIDER HA0oARD.
Copyright. 1907. bp n. Rider Ho00ard.
lContinued.(

HAL an nOuI DtlOhO NaWh W "Ne up
seeing to the horses while the others break
tasted and packed the food that the landlord
had made ready for their Journey. Then
he also swallowed some meat and wine.
and at the first break of day. having dis
charged their reckoning and taken a letter
from their host to those Of other n n upon
the road, they pressed on toward Seville,
very thankful to find that as yet there were
no signs Of their being pursued.
All that day, with short pauses to rest
themselves and their horses, they rode
on without accident. for the most part
over a fertile plain watered by several
rivers which they crosseda at fords or bridges.
As night fell they reached the old town
of Oxuna, which for many hours they
had seen set upon its hill before them, and
Notwithstanding their Moorish dress made
their way almost unobserved in the dark
ness TO that inn TO which they had been
recommended. Here. although he stared
at their garments. on finding that they
had plenty Of money the ndlord received
them well enough. and again they were
fortunate in securing rooms 10 themselves.
II had been their purpose to buy Spanish
clothes in this town, but. as II happened.
IL was a feast day and at night every shop
In the place was closed, 80 they could get
none. Now. as they greatly desired to
reach Seville by the following nightfall.
hoping under cover Of tho darkness to
find and come aboard OF their ship. the
Margaret. which they knew lay safely in
the river and had been advised by messenger
Of their intended journey. 1t was necessary
for them to leave Oxuna before the dawn.
So, unfortunately enough as 1t proved. II
was impossible for them TO put of their
Moorish robes and clothe themselves as
Christians.
They had hoped. too. that here at oxuna
Inez might overtake them. as she had
promised to do II she could. and give them
tidings Of what had happened since they
left Granada. But nc Ihez came. So.
comforting themselves with the thought
that however hard she rode 1t would be
difficult for her to reach them. who had
some hours start. they left 0xuna In the
darkness before any one was astir.
Having crossed some miles Of plain
they passed up through olive groves INTO
hills where cork trees grew, and here stopped
to eat and let the horses feed. just as
they we're starting on again Peter looking
around saw mounted men. a dozen or more
NJ them Of very wild aspect. cantering
through the trees evidently with the object
Of cutting them of.
-Thieves!" he said shortly. Ride for it,"
SO they began to gallop, and their horses,
although somewhat jaded, being very
swift, passed in front Of these men before
they could regain the road. The band
khouted to them to surrender. and as they
lid not stop looscd a few arrows and pur-
sued them, while they galloped down the
hillside to a plain which separated them
from more hills also clothed with cork
trees. This plain was about three miles
wide and DOGGY in places. Still they kept
well ahead Of the brigands. as they took
them to be, hoping that they would give
up the pursuit or lose sight Of them among
The trees. As they entered these. however,
10 their dismay they saw, drawn up in front
Of them and right across the road, another
band of rough looking men, perhaps twelve
b all.
~Trapi" said Peter. W must ride through
hem it is our only chance" at the same
hme squirting his horse to the front and
drawing his sword.
Choosing the spot where their line was
weakest, he dashed through it easily enough,
but next second heard a cry from Margaret
and pulled his horse around to sec that her
mare had fallen and that she and Castell
were in the hands of the thieves. Indeed
already rough men had hold OF her and one
Of them was trying to tear the veil from
her face. With a shout Of rage Peter
charged at them and struck 80 fierce a
blow that his sword cut through the fellows
helmet into his skull SO that he fell down,
dying or dead, Margaret's veil still in his
hand.
Then they rushed at him, Ave or six Of
them, and although he wounded another
man dragged him from his horse, and as
ne lay upon his back sprang at him TO
finish him before he could rise. Already
their knives and swords were over him
and he was making his farewells TO life
when he heard q voice command them
10 desist and bind his arms. This was
quickly done. and he was suffered 10 rise
from the ground TO see before him. not
Morella, as he half expected, but = man
Glad in fine armor beneath his rough cloak,
evidently an officer OF rank.
what kind If a Moor are you.- he asked,
who dare to kill the soldiers af the Holy
Hermandad in the heart of the kings
country and he pointed to the dead man.
Il am not n Moor" answered Peter in his
rough Spanish. Il am a Christian escaped
from Granada and I cut down that man
because he vas trying to insult my be-
trothed. az you would have done. Senior.
I did not know that he was a soldier at the
Hermandad; ! thought him 4 common
thief Of the hills"
This speech or rs much as no could under
stand Of il seemed TO please the officer,
but before he could answer Castell said:
Sir officer, the Senior is an Englishman
and does not speak your langua ge we'll"
He uses his sword we'll, anyhow inter-
rupted the captain. g~lancing at the dead
soldiers cloven helm and head.
Yes, sir; he is Of your trade and. as the
scar upon his face shows. has fought in
many wars. Sir. what he tells you is true.
We are Christian captives ESCAPED from
Granada and flying to Seville with my
daughter. "a whom | pray you to do no
harm. to ask for the protection Of their
gracious Ma %iesties and to find a passage
back TO England"
You do not o like an Englishman,"
answered the captain; you look like a
Marano."
Sir. I cannot help my looks. am a