Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-08-09

| Of the bridge. But soon the scene grew
clear, and it was a strange scene. Thu
bridge was in its place. At the far ent
of it stood group Of the dukes serv
ants. Two or three carried the light
J which had dazzled me; three or feu
held pixies in rest. They were huddlet
together; their weapons were prOtrud
ed before them; their faces were pale
and agitated. TO put it plainly, they
looked in as arrant a fright as hav,
seen men look, and they gazed appre
hensively- at man who stood in the
middle of the bridge, sword in hand
Rupert HentZau was In his trousers
and shirt. The white linen was stained
with blood, but his easy, buoyant pose
told me that he was himself either not
touched ut all or merely scratched
There he stood, holding the bridge
against them and daring them to come
on, or, rather, bidding them and Black
Michael to him, and they, having no
firearms, covered before the desperate
| man and dared not attack him. They
| whispered to one another, and in the
backmost rank / saw my friend Jo-
ham leaning against the portal of the
door and stanching with handker-
chief the blood which flowed from a
wound in his cheek.
BY marvellous chance 1 was master.
The cravcns would oppose me no more
than they dared attack Rupert. 1 had
but to raise my revolver to send him
to his account with his sins on his
head. He did not so much as know
that was there. did nothing-why,
l hardly know to this day. I had kill
ed one man stealthily that night an6
another by luck rather than skill-per-
haps it was that. Again, villain as
the man was, 1 did not relish being
one of crowd against him-perhaps
it was that. But stronger than either
of these restraining feelings came
curiosity and fascination which held
me spellbound, watching for the out
come Of the scene.
Michael, you dog! Michael! If you
can stand, come on!' cried Rupert.
And he advanced step, the group
shrinking back little before him.
The answer to his taunts came in
the wild cry of woman:
lies dead! My God, he's deadr
"Deadw shouted Rupert. II struck
better than l kneww And he laughed
triumphantly. Then he went on:
"Down with your weapons there! I'm
your master now! Down with them, /
sayw
1 believe they would have obeyed,
but as he spoke came new things.
First there arose a distant sound, as
Of shouts and knockings from the 9th
er side of the chateau. My heart leap
ed. 1t must be my men, come by a
happy disobedience to seek me. The
noise continued, but none of the rest
seemed to heed it. Their attention
was chained by what now happened
before their eyes. The group of serv-
ants parted, and woman staggered
on to the bridge. AntOinette de Maui
ban was in a loose white robe her
dark hair streamed over her shoulders,
her face was CHASTITY pale, and her
eyes cleaned wildly in the light Of the
torches. In her shaking hand she held
a revolver, and as she tOttered for.
ward she fired at Rupert Hentzau.
The ball missed him and struck the |
woodwork over my head.
Faith, madam" laughed Rupert, |
chad your eyes been no more deadly |
than your shooting I had not been in
this scrape nor Black Michael in the
lower regions tonight" I
She took no notice Of his words. |
With a wonderful effort she Gained
herself till she stood still and rigid. |
Then very slowly and deliberately she
began to raise her arm again, taking |
most careful aim.
He would be mad to risk 1t. He must
rush on her, CHANGING the bullet, or re-
treat toward me. l covered him with
my weapon.
He did neither. Before she had got
her aim he bowed in his most graceful
cried, 81 can't kill where I've
Kissed" and before she or I could stop
him laid his hand on the parapet Of the
bridge and lightly leaped into the moat.
At the very moment heard rush
Of feet and voice 1 knew-Sapt's-
cry, "God, it's the duke-deady' Then
| knew that the king needed me no
more, and, throwing down my revolv-
pr, sprang out on the bridge. There
was cry of wild wonder, 1.-The kingw
md then ], like Rupert Hentzau, sword
n hand, vaulted over the parapet, in
tent on finishing my quarrel with him
where 1 saw his curly head fifteen
Yards off in the water Of the moats
He swan swiftly and easily. 1 was
weary and half crippled with my
arm. 1 could not gain on him.
For time l made no sound, but as we
'ounded the corner of the old keep i
.red
"StoD, Rupert! Stop"
saw him look over his shoulder, but
le swan on. He was under the bank
low, searching, as guessed, for spot
hat he could climb. / knew there to
,e none, sbut thereswas my rope, which
would still be hanging where had
eft 1t. He would come to where it was
,efore could. Perhaps he would miss
t; perhaps he would find IT and If he
rev 1t up after him he wotld get a
God start of me. / put forth all my
strength and pressed on. AZ
ast 1 began to gain .on:him, for he, oc-
upied with his search, unconaciously
his pace.