The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-04-07
}" demanded the king coldly, his chm

"Well?' demanded the king, coldly his chm
lifting.
Hush, bade the fool with authoritveness
The king flushed angrily but something in the
others covert anxiety repressed him.
What is it you want with us?' addressed the
fool.
Nobody in the band made ready answer Several
laughed, looking at another
Did you get your man. Fritz?" asked faded
purple jacket.
NO; ] cut his head Off but the rascal is still
running, for all that" growled with a chuckle a
faded green.
"Well?" demanded the king. not hoty
What is it want with you?' spoke a tall fei-
low in jacket OF stained yellow, and boots with
yellow tops. Wait" and he jerked his thumb
backward, his shoulder
He thrust his sword, with clank into the scab.
bard, and staggered across the road His COM
panions followed suit. They sheathed their long
blades and having casually examined the coach
and the horses and the corpse up-staring in the
road, one by one they sprawled down, to rest and
to bind up their wounds The three mounts fell
to grazing reaching and nbbling at the scant for.
age of the roadside.
The fool calmly seated himself by the queen.
Have no fear. either of YOU he said, in low
tones mes Let me do the talking that is ALL"
The king also seated himself.
But do not understand murmured the queen
plaintively
The fool surveyed her keenly thoughtfully;
shadow fitted across his face The king however
was gazing moodily at the ground
Two more men-then another, and yet another,
emersed from ,t the forest depths, and joined the
company. They scanned the three prisoners curl
ously; and iinging themselves down exchanged
qup and comment with their fellows.
where's Cap?' asked one.
me tall wight with the yellow jacket and boot
tops jerked his thumb before, over his shoulder.
COMM, he said. The Cricket went on to tell
him, at the other camp
The lounging men talked in low voices, and
nursed themselves; conversation languished lapsed
INTO the ftful and the disconnected died awav
Inc sun rose higher, gradually flooding the road.
About the lifeless bodies and the bloodspots flies
loudly buzzed.
The three prisoners exchanged not a word The
king continued to gaze abstractedly at the ground
in front of him
of sword; and threading rapidly a faint path
scarcely to be noted, weaving amongst the trunks
on the opposite side of the road at trot toward
them came a man, closely followed by another
The group by the road stirred with languid in
terest, and lazily arose At the edge of the trees
the foremost man refined up, and his glance swept
the scene.
1t cannot be said that he was better dressed
than the Others but he sat his horse as if no
horse was there and beneath his dropping brim
out from betwixt two straight-set, compelling dark
eyes jutted with bold curve nose like the beak
OF a hawk, terminating square-of just above the
crisp black moustache
Come, comet" he said brusquely Burn that
coach some of you. Be you search it well,
hrst Cut the silver from that harness. Strip that
other carcass
The band hustled in action Some ripped the
coach upholstering, for possibly concealed vau-
ables; others overhauled the horses and the dead
man. The coach was dragged into the middle OF
the road, and down few PAGES to a more open
spot.
Mind the trees!" cried the man on the horse.
TINDER and branches were heaped beneath the
COACH and in moment the smoke curled up
ward
That will do" interrupted the horseman you,
Fritz the Cricket and Jasper, bring those three
people and come with me. The two can
Walk the lady can stride my horse which will
be proud of the favor am sure The rest Of you
take the other horses and yourselves and be off
The meeting place is you know where
He Slid to the ground, as likewise did his COM
panion. designated the Cricket
Come" bade one Of the men--he of the faded
green, fritz-advancing and clapping the fool on
the shoulder.
The fool arose.
Some he said, in turn. to the queen; and he