The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-08-11

would march to Yadasara tomorrow
were the treasure In the kings hands.
| The time Is ripe to win or to lose, for
success or rebellion. They expected
much of Sir Verrall's coming. They
believe they are doomed to disappoint-
ment, therefore they cry out. Though,
as "A true Drussenlander | have no
pity for those who attacked the knight
when he stood your hlghness' send-
mel, still | affirm that he has only him
self to blame. If he is the expected
knight let him fulfill his mission; If
not let him answer for the lie which
made US give him welcome"
A murmur of appreciation sounded
through the hall. Then all eyes turn
ed toward me. l found courage in
the look that was in the princess eyes
as she turned to me.
81 am accused of breaking law or
Of causing your highness to break it,"
| said. 1T is true. That | succeeded,
though with difficulty, as you, who
heard me make my petition, know
well, is the greatest good | have ac-
complished since have been In Drus-
senland. l will tell you why. Your
priest said if he had judged amiss |
should have power to increase his
wisdom. That power | have, | wish
him power to understand, and not
only the priest, but all you who hear
me- From whence l came you do not
know. You have legend which you
look to be fulfilled, and at my coming
you welcomed me. Think you fulfill
ment comes exactly as men expect?
The priests have wisdom, and they
Iprophesy, but l came into Drussen-
| land from a more enlightened country,
where the wisdom of your priests
would be but as the idle prattling of
child This law of yours that pris-
oners of war shall be slain was
framed when men knew little of him
they worshiped. This he bids me tell
you-that to kill men as you would
kill your prisoners is murder. In that
the priests prophesy disaster to this
land because that law is broken they
err most grievously. | prophesy peace
for this land If you let mercy rule you
rather than vengeance. | fear moth
ing of what you can do to me- Death!
What is it? A moment in time that
sends me to life of rest But l have
mission, as every true man has, and
if in living l cannot fulfill 1t it shall
be fulfilled in dying. That Is my an
swer to your priests They err from
ignorance. l have been given power
to speak wisdom to them. Let them
beware how they shut their ears to
the voice that speaks the truth.
Count Vasca's accusation Is of
different kind. l have not yet placed
your princess on the throne in Yada-
sara. I have not yet found the treas
ure hidden in this land. But he has
made a graver accusation, not against
me. but against you. What men are
they who hold loyalty 50 lightly, who
care so little who reigns over them,
who grumble so loudly and who
would so readily march to Yadasara
to fight against her highness? Who
are they? Speak, In her highness'
name, | promise pardon to any man
who confesses to disloyalty. No an
swer? What! Are we so strangely
divided that In this hall only loyal
subjects find place? Are all the
murmurers without? Remember, the
count accused you, not L. | have
fought beside some of you. | have
witnessed many of you do CALAMITY.
| have more faith in you than the
count has"
And then, turning quickly to the
princess, added:
'"These are honest men, your high
ness, but they feared to contradict
your kinsman."
The rafters rang again. | had be-
come an orator to some purpose.
You see, Count Vasca, you were mis-
taken. Why, when the enemy fled
across the river the other day Were we
not led to follow them? You are Il SOL
der. You know why. The time was
not ripe. 1t would have been to court
defeat. We knew not at what point
the city was least defended. Neither
is the time ripe for the finding of the
treasure, but it ripens."
"Any knight could speak so. We ex-
pect deeds. not words, from Sir Yer
rail- he answered
You have forced me to words. Mark
you not'-and | spoke to those in the
hallmark you not how the two
things go tCAAther? TO set the prin-
cess on the throne in Yadasara and to
find a treasure. At the swords point
must one be accomplished Is it not
the swords point which shall unlock
the hiding place of the other? Your
treasure lies hidden where only knight
~ deeds can win 1t. Your treasure is
valueless until the foreigner is driven
from the land Where think you
treasure would most likely lie in Drus-
senland? Where but in the greatest
stronghold the land contains-in the
fortress of YadasaraW
Again the rafters rang. The knights
shouted as good knights will shout at
the promise of conflict. Even the
priests forgot to scowl and listened.
Here are swords In plenty Lead us
to yictoryw So the knights shouted
and | knew that the greatest danger
was over.