Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-29
CHAPTER XII-Continued.

| You're a good-looking boy enough,
| laughed Ellerey. but heaven forgive her
| majesty. Does she think I am bent on
| some summer picnic that she sends child
to bear me company"
| I'VE are wont to go together. captain.
| Grigosie is a good scout. and 1 warrant Is
likely to prove useful" said Anton.
| For cooking and bedmaking maybe. We
shall have little opportunity for either one
or the other
| "Nor should do either Of them except Of
my own will" said the lad.
| "a stroke or two of the whip would make
| you tell q different tale" said Ellerey:
land you may thank your lucky fortune
that will not take you. for the whip would
| certainly follow
81 have heard of Capt. Ellerey," said the
| boy, but never that fle was bully"
| Ellerey looked at him quizZically.
| We'll. lad. 1 did not mean to hurt your
| feelings. You do not lack courage. and
| you'll grow into a stout man for rough
| work some day. In this expedition 1 can
| not use you"
Il can use a sword and am master of
| fence. and the sword is not the only weapon
| which victory hangs upon"
| Peace. Grigosie; 1 will give the captain
| an excellent reason for taking YOU
| Peace, yourself. Anton. Am I to be
taken out of charity? Set me to prove my
Il have no time. lad said Ellerey. pick
ing up his cloah anton may come since
| we are few. but"
| There is fly on the wall, captain"
| We'll, what of it? You are a strange
| lad"
1T is gone. warrant; but in case have
| Observation-Disclosures"
| Two revolver shots cracked in quick sue
cession he spoke. and the room in
darkness. Then the landlord rushed in.
'The candle is out; light 1t again, land
| lord said the boy. and then when it had
| burnt up he pointed with the revolver to
the spot where the fly had been and where
now there was hole. Il do not think
missed
Leave us, landlord" said Ellerey. ''It
| was the deciding of foolish boast"
The lad slipped the revolver into his
pocket again and refolded his arms.
| THAT was a foolish jest. youngster,
Ellerey said. DO you think such boast
fulness fits you for such work as ours?''
"There are few who could have done it,
was the answer
! True"
"Such precision might serve you were
| your enemies three to one"
| True again.
Then ask me to go with YOU" was the
prompt reply.
! May 1 not even take you out Of char
| ity?"
The lad shook his head with a smile.
| and there was something very winning in
| his smile.
Very we'll VIII you come with mer'
| asked Elery.
| ITO the death"
| "Your hand on that bargain"
| "Il earn the grip of comradeship before
| 1 take it. captain. Until then 1t is for you
/ to order. be it to cooking or to bedmaking."
| You'll serve for sport and as relief to
monotony. if for nothing else" said FL
| lerey. Orders then. We must be start
| ing
You have not heard my further news"
! said Anton. ut Is not time to start yet
Ellerey turned upon him angrily. Was
his authority SO soon to be questioned?
Every gate is closed against Capt. Ell
| lerey by the kings orders" said Anton.
1T has been SO since noon today"
rs the scent so hot aready?"
I'VE shall leave the city, but not yet.
| The lad here will show us the way" An
ton answered.
You see 1 am to be Of some service
| quickly, captain" said Grigosie. Trust me.
My way is clear enough and no kings or
| der has power to bar 1t. We must wait
| little. have some money in my pouch:
may pay for liquor?"
laughed Ellerey. Order your drinks. and
tell me who they were who fathered and
| mothered you that you have such wit. You
are not fashioned after the usual breed in
| Wallaria."
Il am of the pure breed which is being
forgotten in the bastard race I am of the
old stock reared without the city walls.
Anton can answer for me-"
| THAT I can
The drinks were brought. but the lad
drank sparingly. Ellerey liked him none
| the worse for that. If wine were found
| upon the journey, one sober comrade
though he were a lad. might be more prof
| table than half dozen boosters. The boy
talked brightly. and his air of boastfulness
| fell from him. There was tone of defer
| ence to the captain in his manner which sat
| gracefully on his young shoulders.
| Were it not that they brought your ia
| vor, 1 should regret the fly and the CANDLE"
he said presently. Il crave your pardon"
| Say no more Of 1t. Wen give you bet
| ter marks before long, maybe"
You carry two cloaks. captain. How is
that"
"One my own. one borrowed this morn
ing. I am going to leave it with the land
| lord to be returned
"Wear it until we are free Of the city. 1t
may conceal you from some prying eyes. I
warrant you well looked for tonight"
Have we far to travel to this exit of
| yours?"
Some distance. and by narrow ways. II
there should be prying eyes we must close
| them quickly. We want no shouts to raise
rabble. Is it not time. Anton?'
Yes the gates have been closed for half
! an hour"
Come. then" said the lad. Must We
| so through the court?"
There is no other way" Anton an
! swered.
"Then captain. will you permit that Anton
| and | go frst?" said Grigosie. Follow
u,
| do not you: overtake and push us
| roughly aside, and will overtake you
again in a moment. Your pardon that l
seem to lead in this matter, but know the
road we must take"
Elerey returned a grvH assent to the ar
| rangement. He had looked into the boys
eyes and seen honesty there, but he was
not going to walk carclessy, for all that.
| The inn was empty. was the court and
| there were few people abroad In the Ber-
genstra sse Grigosie and Anton, leading
| the way by scarce dozen PAGES. turned al
| most directly from the main thoroughfare
| into a side street, and had soon turned to
| left and right SO often that Ellerey would
| hardly have found his way back to the
| Toison dor. Not once did they stop, and
| IL they looked back to see that their COM
| panion was following them, Ellerey was
not aware of the fact. He kept close upon
| their heels. ready to stand on the defensive
at the first sign of treachery. but he took
| little notice OF where they led him.
Suddenly q street corner struck him as