The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-15

guised themselves as members of his outlaw band. he swore that none but himself should take toll in Sherwood, and, as he was Saxon, no Norman with in his woods should capture with im- punitl the noble Cedric. Hastily send ing out his two attendants to summon his band. he repaired to the cell of the holy clerk of Copmanhurst. an am chorite who has gone down to history as Friar Tuck. to summon that dough- ty fighter to bear his part fin the con- test which was toward.
 As Robin Hood came to the lonely hut where lived the clerk, he was sur prised to hear sounds of revelry pro- ceeding from 1t. Knocking loudly at the door, 1t opened to discover the Black Knight of the tournament with a fiagon to his lips from which he quaffed between the slaves of a rollick- ing song. The Black Knight, journey ing toward York, had sought shelter for the night in the cell of the stout anchorite and he and Friar Tuck, being hail fellows well met and two of kid- ney, had made a night of 1t.
 Robin Hood was disconcerted at first by the presence of~the knight: but rec- ognizing him as the man who had de- cided the victory for the English against the Normans In the lists of Ashby, he accepted his offer to serve as a volunteer in the expedition. And so 1t happened that the merry men of Sherwood, together with a considerable body of Saxon peasants assembled by Curtin and Wamba, now besieged Tor quilstone.
 In response to the bugle call the sem eschal of the hold sought the outer wall and a summons to surrender tho prisoners was handed him. It was signed, as If by way of insult, by the marks of Curtin and Wamba. Tn reply the Norman chiefs sent back word that If the besiegers had a priest in their ranks they would better send him into the castle to give the last rites to Ced- ric and Athelsane, whom they proposed to hang forthwith from the battle- ments
 Friar Tuck refusing to take the ven- ture, Wamba disguised himself in a monks robe and entered the castle. promising to bring back word of the strength of the garrison. Once in the presence of Cedric, the faithful fool in- sisted that his master change clothes with him and escape, sacrifice to which Cedric at last consented. As Cedric was leaving the castle he was waylaid by Ulrica. who, penetrating his disguse, said: When you shall see red flag wave from the dongeon-keep press hard"
 Front-de- -Boeurs real object in send Ing for a priest was to get a messen- ger who should carry through the ene- my's lines demand for help. So, dis missing the supposed monk by pos tern, he gave him a scroll, which he charged him to deliver at York on peril of his life. Cedric. free of the castle, sought at once, of course, the place where Robin Hood and the Black Knight were waiting. and great was their surprise to see Cedric instead of Wamb&-
 Now the assault upon the castle be- gan in earnest. The officers of the garrison were too busy defending the walls to carry out their threats regard ing their prisoners or to guard them closely. Ulrica called Rebecca to the care of the wounded Ivanhoe and went herself about the business of which she had hinted to Cedric.
 Ivanhoe In his prison chamber chafed like a wounded tiger at the injuries and captivity which prevented him from taking part in the struggle. the tumul- tuous sounds of which he could hear surging about the castle wall.
 Look from the window, good maid en-" said he to Rebecca, "and tell how the battle goes" Trumpets and ket- tledrums sounded and the war cries Of both parties augmented the fearful din. the assallants crying Saint George for Merry England" and the besieged, "Eu avant de Bracy!" "Beau-seant!' Front de -Boeuf Ia Rescoussel"
 And I must be here like a bedrid- den monk" exclaimed Tvanhoe. while the game that gives me life or death is . played out by the hands of others"
 '"rhe clouds of arrows fly so thick as to. dazzie my eyes and hide the bow men who shoot them." said Rebecca. ~They press forward to the assaulti"
 Look for the Black Knightr said IvanhoO.
 q see him not" replied the maiden.
 Foul craven! Does he blench from the encounter when the Aght Is the thickast7"
 He blenches not! He. blenches notH' cried the Jewess His high. black plume noats abroad over the throns like a raven over the 6eid nf 'h> slain."