The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-10

not Immediately betake myself else where I'll have thee whipped till thou oiead. Now then! ye louts!'' he added. addressing the LOW paralyzed group or men, ''on with your caps in my presence---quick's the word,"
 There was dead silence, broken only by an occasional groan of real. tangible fright.
 heavens He'll have us all hanged!s knees. 1 One by one. stin in complete silence, the caps were doffed. His Grace of Wessex. Future King of England mayhap! And they had dared to threaten him.
 Holy Virgin protect the lot of us,"
 One man. more alert than his fell lows. well In the rear of the group. be- gan crawling away on hands and knees. hoping to escape unobserved. One or two saw his intention and immediately followed him. John the smith had all ready dropped his torch. which lay smouldering on the ground. There was distinct movement in the direction of general retreat. We'll" laughed the Duke good-na- turedly. 'have you done enough mis- chief7 Get ye gone. all of you. .. or I shall have to call the guard and have you all whipped for set ] of dastardly towards, eh? VI. or. bet ter still. hanged. as your leader and friend here suggests--what?" | They had no need to be told twice. | Still silently, they picked up their caps. one or two of them scratching their added pates. They were asham- forgotten all about the witch. There's nothing like real personal danger 10 allay imaginary terrors. The | devil was all very we'll. but he was long way off and for the moment in- visible. whilst His Grace of Wessex was really there and he was !. we'll! he was His Grace of Wessex, and that's all about it.
 One by one, they edged away. and the darkness soon swallowed them up. The Duke never moved until the last of them had gone. leaving only Abra and his henchman covering in terror beside the platform.
 From behind a bank of clouds the pale, crescent moon suddenly emerged and threw faint, silvery light on the now deserted scene of the dastardly outrage.
 Well. Harry, my friend! I think that's the last of them!" said Wessex lightly as he finally put up his sword and mounted the steps to the plat form.
 Mirrab's long strands of golden hair hung like a veil over her face and breast; she had straightened herself out somewhat. but her head, was still bent. Her tottering reason was very slowly and gradually returning to her.
 She did not even move while Wessex undid the leather belts which tied her to the flagstaff and with his heel kick ed the faggots to one side. She seem- ed as unconscious now of her safety as she had been a short while ago of her impending doom.
 As her last bonds were severed she fell like Q shapeless bundle on her knees.
 He never looked at her. What was she but a poor, tattered wreck of hu- manity. whom his timely interference had saved from an appalling death? But he was very sorry for her, because through indescribable sufferings; in that gentle. impersonal pity, there was no room for the mere curiosity to know what she was like
 Before he finally turned to go, he placed a well-filled purse on the ground. not far from where she was covering, and said very kindly:
 "rake my advice. girl. and do not get myself into any more mischief of this sort. Next time there might be no one nigh to get thee out of trou- bIe. Come, Harry" he added. calling to his dog, ''time4 is getting late"
 At the foot of the steps he came across the shrinking forms of Abra and his companion. The Duke paused for a moment and said more sternly:
 "As for thee, sirrah, get thee gone, bag and baggage. thy tents and thy trickeries. before the night is"half an hour older. The guard shall be sent to protect thee, but if thou art still here an hour hence, those sobered ruffiaus will have returned and noth- ing'll save thee and thy wench sec ond time"
 He waited for no protestations from the abject wizard. and turned his steps towards the river.
 As he was crossing the open space. however he suddenly felt tight grip on his cloak; he turned, yet could see nothing, for the oapricious moon had once more hidden her light behind passing cloud, and the darkness, by contrast, seemed all the more intense
 But he heard sound, which was very like a sob, and then a murmur which had a curious ring of passion in it:
 Thou hast saved my life .. 'tis thine =. I give it thee! Hence forth. whene'er I read the starlit firm ament I'll pray to God that the most glorious star in Heaven shall guide thy destinyi"
 He gave a pleasant laugh. gently disengaged his cloak, and without an- other word went his way.
 CHAPTER X.
 A Bevy of Fair Maidens.