Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-06-14


never to exhibit on a horse again.
Down a long, narrow lane we went,
meeting some wanderers and some
roisterers, and as we rode we heard
the cathedral bells still changing out
their welcome to the king. 1t was
half-past 6 and still light. At last we
came to the city wall and to a gate.
"Have your weapon ready" whis-
pered Sapt. 1--WE must stop his mouth
If he talks"
put my hand on my revolver. Sapt
hailed the doorkeeper. The stars
fought for us. A little girl of fourteen
tripped out.
"Please, sir, fathers gone to see the
king"
He'd better have stayed here" said
Sapt to me, grinning.
"But She said wasn't to open the
gate, sir"
"Did be, my dearY said Sapt, dis
mounting "Then give me the key"
The key was in the child's hand.
Sapt gave her crown
Heres an order from the king.
Show it to your father. Orderly, open
The gate"
leaped down. Between us we rolled
back the great gate, led our horses out
and closed it again.
II shall be sorry for the doorkeeper
lf Michael finds out that he wasn't
there. Now, then, lad, for a canter.
We mustn't go too fast while we're
near the town."
Once, however, outside the city we
ran little danger, for everybody else
was inside merrymaking, and as the
evening fell we quickened our pace,
my splendid horse bounding along I'M
der me as though had been a feather.
1t was fine night, and presently the
moon appeared. We talked little on
the way and chiefly about the progress
we were making.
81 wonder what the dukes dispatches
told him." said once.
AYE, wonderp responded Sapt.
We stopped for draft Of wine and
to bait our horses, losing half an hour
thus. / dared not so into the inn and
stayed with the horses In the stable.
Then we went ahead again and had
covered some five and twenty miles
when Sapt abruptly stopped.
"Harkw he cried.
l listened. Away, far behind US, In
the still of the evening-it was just
half past Give heard the beat OF
horses hOofs. The wind, blowing
strong behind us, carried the sound. ]
glanced at Sapt.
"Come onw he cried and spurred his
horse into gallop. When we next
paused to listen, the hoof beats were
not audible, and we relaxed our pace.
Then we heard them again. Sapt
jumped down and laid his ear to the
ground.
"There are two" he said. They're
only q mile behind. Thank God, the
road curves in and out and the winds
our way"
We galloped on. We seemed to be
holding our own. We had entered the
outskirts of the forest Of Zenda, and
the trees. closing in behind US as the
track zigged and Jagged, prevented US
seeing our pursuers and them from
seeing us.
Another half hour brought us to d.
vide of the road. Sapt drew rein.
"To the right Is our road" he said.
"To left. to the castle. Each about
eight miles. Get down."
"But they'll be on u.s." / cried,
"Get DOWN. be repeated brusquely,
and l obeyed.
The wood was dense up to the very
edge of the road. We led our horses
into the covert, bound handkerchiefs
over their eyes and stood beside them.
"You want to see who they are% l
whispered.
"Aye, and where they're going" he
answered.
saw that his revolver was in his
hand.
Nearer and nearer came the hoOfs
The moon shone out now clear and full,
so that the road was white with 1t.
The ground was hard, and we had left
no traces.
"Here they comer' whispered Sapt
"It's the dukew
~ thought sol" he answered.
It was the duke, and with him
burly fellow whom I knew well and
who had cause to know me afterward
Max Holt, brother to JOHANN the
keeper, and body servant to his high
ness. They were up to US. The duke
refined up. saw Sapt's finger curl
lovingly toward the trigger. believe
he would have given ten years OF BIS
life for a shot, and he could have pick
ed off Black Michael as easily as l
could a barn door fowl In farmyard.
I laid my hand on his arm. He nod
ded reassuringly. He was Always
ready to sacrifice inclination to duty.
(Which way" asked Black Michael.
ITO the castle, your highness," urged
his companion. "There we shall learn
the truth"
For an instant the duke hesitated.
81 thought heard hoofs," said ne.
M think not, your hlghness." -.
"Why shouldn't we 60 to the LOGGER
/ 81 fear a trap. If all Is well, why
20 to the lodge? If not, it's snare 10
trap U.S."
Suddenly the dukes horse nelgneo'
In an instant we folded our cioaKs
close round our horses heads and'
-, .h,a oororod fha duke