Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-12-01
said Organ. 'To0I LIZ t. the harness Of

! said Organ. Go0E.1I 70 the HARNESS. o.
my horse.
The trumpets sounded. and roaI
Of welcome came from Thousand
threats. Other combats had excited
but my entrance heralded the perform
ance which had brought this crowd to
gether. AS l rode past the gallery the
marshal and his attendants rose t
! give me courteous welcome. So ha(
they risen to each knight as he en-
tered the lists, but there was keene,
criticism in their eyes as they rose tt
me- Some friends had among them
some enemies. l could probably have
divided friends from foes by the ex
preston on their faces. kept my
horse we'll in hand. had no desire
now to show off CALAMITY. The bust
ness before me was too serious and
might all too soon give the lie to my
warlike appearance. Slowly walked
the horse round the lists until was
opposite the gallery in which Princess
Daria sat.
The princess rose. and l saluted her
gravely, wondering If at that moment
the same thought ran through both our
brains-the thought of the handker-
chief which she had given and which
even then was lying close to my heart.
Then I rode back and stood beneath
the marshal's gallery.
"Heralds, sound the challenge Of the
knight of the Silver Star-once" he
cried.
The trumpets'~ music filed the air.
and before the echoes had died among
the hills the barrier at the opposite
side of the lists to which had enter
ed was thrown open. and Count Vasca
rode into the arena.
II accept the challenge" he cried,
and then. approaching me, he said in
our combat, Sir Verrall. You have
willed that it shall be for honor"
For honor. Count Vasca. and for
love. too. if you WILL" I answered de-
family.
$50 soon a different tale! Danger
gives increasing beauty to fair face
likely to be lost"
1T is rather to challenge you to
your best. You harp on love so con
stantly perchance honor is not enough
to strengthen your arm against me-"
A hiss Of rage was his only answer
ITO achievement, knights!" cried the
herald. Sound trumpets!
AS the blast rang out l turned my
horse. and the next moment the count
and l were rushing madly at each 9th
err. In that instant my mind was a
blank. Action had driven out even
the thought of fear. We met. His
lance shivered against my shield. a
blow which shook me. but did not
make me reel in the saddle. Either
my aim was untrue or he avoided the
blow. for my lance only glanced along
his armor, and l continued my rush
toward the opposite side of the lists.
Perhaps there was some surprise that
was still in the saddle, satisfac-
Hon that the combat was not to be
one sided affair, that If not all claim.
ed to be I was at least no craven car
pet knight. At any rate, a cheer rang
out, and I felt encouraged.
Turning, I saw that the count had
been supplied with another lance and
was ready to charge again. There was
a moments pause; then the trumpets
sounded, and once more we rushed
upon each other. The spirit Of battle
was upon me. l had more confidence,
and I dug the spurs into my horse,
leaning forward to the charge.
I hardly knew what had happened,
brought as l was to a sudden standstill
by blow which seemed to strike me
full in the body. l reeled backward.
but my horse. being thrown upon his
saved me, and with
mighty effort I succeeded in keeping
my seat As my horse struggled up I
regained my full consciousness. to find
Vasca's horse also struggling to his
feet, his rider still in the saddle, and
to see that both our lances were bro
ken short to the handle. My blow had
been as fierce as his. Victory was
with neither of us yet.
A great roar of applause arose
around US as we passed to opposite
sides of the lists.
Both of us had to be given a fresh
lance, and probably the count, like
myself, felt the need Of recovering
himself a little before again rushing
to the onslaught. l had no knowledge
Of how much of this kind of thing he
could stand without showing signs Of
weakness, but l was perfectly sure
that another blow like the last would
be quite enough for me.
Even now we seemed a long time
reaching each other, and my eyes re-
fused to see my enemy clearly as he
came, yet l felt that he, too, wished
to end the combat; that he, too, was
bent on making a desperate endeavor.
Gathering all my strength together, l
rushed to meet him, and even as did
SO l remembered Organs advice
Perhaps even at that late moment
feared to receive such q blow as the
last, but whatever the motive was
that decided me I acted upon the ad-
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