Evening star., 1909-05-16
A GENTLE KNIGHT
OF OLD BRAN NDE NIB UR G

Continued from page Z


"Himuiell he's long one! We must capture
him. The master would give us thousand
marks for that fellow.
Prince Henry entered the inn to bespeak
entertainment for his party, and Peter led the
horses to the stable The six travellers were
left to themselves.
Der 7eafeH but we must take him. said
one of the Germans, speaking to the leader.
Hes long one and will bring us good price.
Shall we try to take him tonight asked
another
I'VE might take him while he sleeps" sug
gested the first speaker
"Aeh Wen see, we'll see,' answered the
French Captain impatiently All in good
time Don't talk. Don't think. Don't make
plans. Leave the talking, the thinking, and
the planning to me. All that you blockheads
have to do is to keep your mouths shut and
mind your own business. Your business is to
strike when l tell you, and to keep still at all
other times Understand? As for this fellow,
we shall see what we shall see. Be quick slow
w. is the masters word; but be quick!''
Yes, yes; but be quick! That's the masters
word" answered one of the men.
And we will be quick returned the Cap
tain; but our long friend would fight like
forty devils We will wait for good oPpor-
tunitv to take him without conflict. We don
want to seek broken heads for ourselves and
the master would break our heads for good and
all if we break this fellows He will be worth
great deal more to us whole. Now say we II
travel with him till he trusts us, and then he'll
fall quietly into our net.
COON after a late supper the house was lost in
~ darkness and its tired occupants were lost
in sleep Henry and Peter occupied room to
themselves, and their six travelling companions
slept on the floor of the taproom. There was
whispered discussion among the six ruffians
concerning the best course to be followed IN
capturing our friend; but as there were many
miles to be travelled before reaching Chemnltz,
and as the road wound through mountainous,
aah, tod
Frenchman thought it better to take the chance
of capturing Henry next day in the mountains
than to try to take him at the Inn.
NEXT morning, Prince Henry, Peter, and their
~ six companions started in a terrific snow
storm on their Journey to Chemnltz. Henry
hoped that when they reached Chemn1tz he
would be able to capture his friends and form
a little company to be offered, with himself 10
the Prince or King that would give the highest
price Henry expected to make his capture
with Establishments and gold The SIX ruftlans,
on the other hand, expected to make their cap
ture by force.
After leaving the inn each mile of the road
carried the travellers farther into the mountains
and within few hours they were in the midst
of a wild cluster of small peaks and preclplces.
Snow had fallen heavily overnight, and IN
manv places the road was hidden After the
party had penetrated well into the heart of the
mountains, the road entirely lost, and
Henry sprang from his horse to reconnoiter on
foot Peter and three of the strangers were two
hundred yards in the rear, and the other three
including the French Captain, were with Henry.
Henry threw his reins over the pommel OF the
saddle and, leaving his horse, walked short
distance ahead to sound the snow and IT posi-
BILE to find the road His pistols were IN his
saddle and his sword, being cumbersome IN
tramping through the snow had been left with
the pistols. Before Henry had taken twenty
steps from his horse, the three strangers dis
mounted and quickly overlook him.
THE Captain, following close at his heels,
called to him, SAYING most politely but
somewhat nervously, have word to speak
with you my friend!'
Henry turned in surprise and looked into the
muzzle of hand gun. We'll, why don't you
say it," he returned showing no surprise, and
not indicating by even so much as the fall of an
eyelid that he saw the hand gun.
"Because-because-" stammered the some
what disconnected Captain, because like
YOU and don like the task ahead of me. 4"
What is the task ahead of your" asked
Henry You surely don't intend to murder
me-"
Mon Dieu, monsieur! No, no, far from it,
assure monsieur answered the Frenchman
hastily and politely 1T greves me even to tell
monsieur that he is my prisoner"
The other two men Immediately lifted their
hand guns and pointed them at Henry's head
At the same moment the leader whlstled, and
the three men who were with Peter seized the
old man and informed him that they would,
for the small sum of half pfennig, blow out his