The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-04-07

the nut 20 PICK up Il puhuic ga SUMS
F. IL was risky. but l was almost faint
ing for want OF food.
Holding up my hand in warming.
stepped into the clearing. She saw ms
and let the sticks fall. but she did not
utter a sound
They are for the king" whispered
81 am for the princess. Who is your
son fort"
THE princess"
She beckoned me 10 follow her. and
] entered the hut.
"You shall eat first and, II you will
tell me the tale afterward."
Ii was frugal fare she set before me
such n pottage that at other times my
stomach might have turned against
but now enjoyable as the dainty feast
OF an epicure. and then ! told her a
garbled version OF my story, true
enough I'm particulars. but wanting In
detail.
You're q brave man." she said. MY
son would have acted so, for he is a
brave man too. Now let me look at
your wounds. Living i'm the woods, VIC
old women find strange herbs"
She could not have used me more
tenderly had l been her son. In the
midst of her work she stopped sudden
ly. She had quick ears.
"They are returning"
Good mother, give me some weap-
on and my life shall stand between
them and you"
''There is a better way" she answer
ed. Come with me-"
She led me into n small back room
and. pushing some faggots back from
corner, opened n trap.
Its a WELL" she said, but it's some
thing more. Catch hold of the rope,
hang at arms length and your feet will
feel a ledge. 1t is the floor of little
nidrng place and safe enough. War
rant Quick; they are at the door!'
She replaced the lid of the trap, and
heard her sweep the fagots over it
as l swung myself into the hiding
place, fair sized kind OF cellar under
the hut BY the noise above l could
hear that several men had entered.
could hear the murmur of their voices,
but could catch no words. The hut
was evidently carefully searched again,
the trap was even opened, but the hole
was so clearly a well that none sus-
pected hiding place.
For three days | lay hidden, chiefly
in the well. but sometimes climbing
into the hut when the woman thought
it safe for me TO do so. More than
once the men paid surprise visits. once
nearly catching me. and so well was
the wood watched that even ut night
it was not safe for me to start.
On the fourth night ! set out upon
my journey. The kings men had with
drawn, convinced that | was not con-
cealed in the wood. The woman told
me which path should take TO reach
the open country toward my destina-
ton. and she provided me with Il short
dagger. the only weapon she had.
was in the princess country, but |
Stunned habitations and avoided viii
lage as the plague. | went carefully
day and night, keeping TO the woods
as much as possible, choosing to make
roundabout journey rather than go
direct with the chance of being seen.
1t was on the sixth or perhaps the
seventh day. for took little heed of
the passing OF time. that | neared my
goal. To gain the private door by
which | escaped and by which in
tended to return had to cross in front
of the camp and climb the opposite hill
spur. No sentry disturbed me. Only a
light here and there was visible. Some
thing had happened. If large part OF
her army had deserted which would
explain why the kings troops had
wandered unchallenged over the coun-
try. the sooner the princess and set
out to find the exit from Drussenland
the better.
/ found the secret door and opened
It. With my dagger in my hand !
CROPPED my way along the dark pas.
sages, not certain Of my direction.
There was not q sound. The palace
seemed deserted. and my heart failed
AZ luSl Il W lllt NOilluOl III
which the princess rooms were. There
was no light in it. not a sound.
stood still and listened. Not a sound
yes. little sound. the slight creak of
armor. Friend or foe. he was too near
the princess for me TO wish to avoid
him. SO / went forward, taking no
further care to step lightly.
"Who goes?"
"a friend"
"That name may stand for a foe
now" he answered.
| heard him strike door with his
sword. 1t was the princess door, and
at his summons two men came out
bearing torches.
"Verrallw one exclaimed. "You come
too late, fear"
TOO late"
'The princess is gone"
"Gone! WhereT