Omaha daily bee., 1910-05-08

had staked large sums on Crockfords
horses. which were disqualified by the
death of the owner. Only a few knew of
his sudden death however, and these were
sworn to secrecy.
On the day of the race Crockford's body
was made to look as lifelike as possible
and placed in a chair at an upper window
of his home, partly concealed ty the lace
curtains. People going to the tracks and
passing the house saw the figure at the
window and cheered him 1t was said
that Crockford was not well and was I'M
able to attend the race. Crockford's
horses won, and the next day It was an
nounced that Crockford was dead. 1t
was several years however before the
true story leaked out,
A Battle After Death.
OF all the stories Of the days Of chivalry
none is more interesting than that how
the Cid Campeador, Gods scourse upAA
the Moors" won battle after death. ~
Cid died at Valencia and before death d.
rected that his body be taken to CASTLE
Just about this time a mighty army lay
siege to Valencia, but the story is best
told in the quaint language of the chron-
icler.
Three days after the Cid had departed
this life King Bucar came into the port
of Valencia and landed with all his power,
which was great that there is not
man in the world who could give account
of the Moors he had brought. And there
came with him thirty and six kings and
one Moorish queen, who was a negress;
and she brought with her 200 horse
women, all negresses like herself, all hav-
ing their hair shorn save for one tuft on
Z ~.
came as il upon a pilgrimage and to OBJ
tain the remission OF their sins; and they
were all armed in coats of mail and with
Turkish bows King Bucar ordered his
tents pitched around about Valencia and
AbenalfaraX, who wrote this history in
Arabic, saith that there were full 1900
tents. And he babe the Moorish negress,
with her archers, to take their station near
the city. And on the morrow they began
to attack the city, and they fought against
II three days strenuously; and the Moors
received great loss. for they came blindIy
up to the walls and were slain there. And
the Christians defended themselves right
well, and every time that they went upon
the walls they sounded trumpets and tam
bours, and made great rejoicing, as the Cid
had commanded. This continued for eight
had made ready everything for their de-
parture, he had commanded. And King
Bucar and his people thought that the Cid
dared not come out against them, and they
were the more encouraged, and began &c
think of making bastiles and engines there
with TO combat the city, for certes they
weened that the Cid Ruydiez dared moi
come out against them. seeing that he
tarried so long.
Planning the Charge.
IAN the while the company OF the Clio
we're preparing all things 10 go into Gas
tile, as he had commanded before hi:
death, and his trusty Gil Diaz did nothing
else but labor at this. And the body OF
the CID was prepared after this manner
First, It was embalmed and anointed as
the history has already recounted, and
the virtue OF the balsam and myrrh was
such that the flesh remained firm ant
fair having its natural color. and his
eountenance as It was wont TO be, and his
eyes open, and his long beard in order, 81
there was not man who would have
thought him dead II he had seen him and
not known II. And Gil Dlaz placed th'
body upon right noble saddle, and thi,
saddle. with the body upon H. he put upor