The Ocala evening star., 1911-04-08
THE KNIGHT OF
THE SILVER STAR
Continued from First Page)

Many of the men I have seen are |
not armed" he returned, but they are
no ordinary travellers. They all go the
same way-yonder."
His attitude was unconsciously dra-
matte as he stretched out his arm.
pointing toward the mountains to the
north.
"Where is yonderT 1 asked, more
for the sake OF saying something than
because l wanted to know.
II only know the legend which every
body knows and which everybody
laughs at, but 1 am wiser than every
body, because l don't laugh"
A roar of merriment greeted this
assertion. could not help joining
In it.
LET me eat first, and then We'll
have the story. The story will wait,
and my hunger is too ripe to keep"
Of necessity in this history / must
talk of myself. l am the hero of 1t.
and he's a poor hero indeed who isn't
worth talking about. l was wan
derer by inclination, not of necessity.
and, although not actually seeking ad-
venture. l was not unwilling to enjoy
some mild form of enterprise should
such come my way, but | little thought
of the strange experiences which lay
before me. Few people even If they
are interested will believe the story
and will say of me. as was said Of
Mustapha. He is q stupid dreamer"
To these l can honestly confess that ]
should sometimes doubt the history
myself had | not always before me
one incOntestable proof of the truth
of it, For my personal appearance l
stand over six feet, am broad shoul-
dered and athletic, have fair hair and
am clean shaven, and | believe there
are less we'll favored men in the world
than myself.
Brayle lies, if indeed there is still
village there, at the foot of one OF the
southern spurs of the great Caucasian
range 1t is an out of the way place
which probably few tourists have dis
covered. 1t is enough to say that,
while the slopes Of the western range
are clad in verdure, the central range,
as it may be called, is arid. rocky and
desolate OF comparatively uniform
height, the mountain tops rise majes-
ticalIy into the region of perpetual
snow There are, practically speak
ing, no passes. only here and there a
goat track, dizzy enough to contem
| plate, Of a mountaineer's ZigZag path
which leads nowhere In particular,
and in the neighborhood of Brayle
sheer rock rises perpendicularly from
the mountain road which runs through
the village So to my story.
Supper finished and brier pipe set
going, 1 suggested another log on the
fire, more wine-it was very thin wine
and harmless-and Mustapha's tale.
The man had drunk at my expense or
I do not think he would have told the
legend.
Its little l know" he said. Every
one knows nearly as much. only they
do not believe Long ago, long before
Brayle existed, somewhere near here
there was q pass from this side Of the
mountains to q country beyond. There
was constant intercourse between the
people on this side of the mountains
and that country, whose inhabitants
though different, were friendly. The
men We're strong and Warlike and the
women more than beautiful, far supe
rior to ours, it is said, and the wealth
of the country was enormous. In INT
, kings treasury were stored gold anC
silver and precious stones, greater
} wealth than man could name. 1t wa
: q pleasant country, too, warm and sun
nv, for the great mountains shut 1t IL
and sheltered it. They were a stront
people and therefore dwelt in safety,
: contented people and therefore happy
A day came when the pass was n
, more 1t was a year of fierce storms
t such as had not been known until tha
D time nor have been since. Mountain
n split asunder and changed their shapes
and when the storms were over tn
pass was gone. The mountain walls o
it had split and fallen In, shutting tha
fair land out Of the world forever"
"The legend improves with ever
telling" said the landlord.
"And it's all lie,' said one of tn
other men contemptuously. "I've bee
lost a day and night upon the noun
tains and know every inch of ther
thai is to be known. It's all tale
Mustapha is stupid dreamer
o Mustapha watched me. My criticisI
q was the only one he cared about. Hi
Y, companions jeers he had heard ofte
: enough before.
It Il thought it all a tale once he sal
l. when | made no comment Il kno'
q better now There was until lately
:. wise woman in Brayle. and she tol
me that. though the pass was destro!
ed. there remained a secret entrance
= this fair country through the moul
10 tains and that she had seen arme
men going there. l did not beliey
l. 1t. and | laughed. but now l laugh 4
ID more. | have seen these strange me
10 more than once"
E "WhereT' | asked.
IL "On the road you will take tomorro
If YOU travel to the east. | will sho
you the place"
every we'll: you shall show me t
morrow We will start early, Mu
tapha.'' l said>as I prepared to 60
n rest for the night.
- ST shall wake at dawn" he answe
~ ed.
k And you will return?" asked Il
j. landlord.
n I'VE shall be back before sunst
I'd ready for an excellent supper" l a
a swered
lie Back before sunset, / little kne
IN how many sunsets would sink in
night before saw Brayle again.