The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-05-05
The Knight
of the
Silver Star


good one-witness our being here"
"If the people believe this legend SO
implicitly, how was it you were treas
IRE hunting when ] first came upon
yOu?"
EASILY explained" said O'Ryan.
1.-THE king in Yadasarn is not much un-
der priestly influence. lie likes having
his own wuy, and, although he firmly
believes that the treasure exists, ne
thinks he can find it without any
supernatural aid, and if II does exist
] dare say he is quite right"
Probably"
'Besides, he is surrounded by u
good many nineteenth century advep-
1 turers, who care about as much for
religion us COW does for roast par
fridge To put it shortly. the super
stitious part Of the people are mostly
mere with the princess
"But what is the religion Of Drussen-
/ land?"
"I'm not much ut religion myself,
/ Verrall," ne said. "They are not heB-
i thens III this country, but everything
/ has symbol You have seen how the
mountain Khrym stands like u sen
tinel over the land. 1t is the most
prominent feature, and when thinking
of the author of his being and ruler of
/ his destiny every true Drussenlander
/ thinks of Khrym; therefore Khrym
4 has come to mean God, and, although
! they do not worship the mountain,
1 they believe that the appearance Of
/ the mountain reflects the pleasure or
! displeasure of the Almighty"
"Do all the people believe this sym
/ bolical jumble?"
81 think so-that is, all who are for
the princess I don't suppose the
/ priests believe all they teach, but It
/ suits them to keep up the superstition,
/ and this war has become q kind of re
] ligious one"
"Have they no priests in Yadasara?"
] asked
"Plenty, and, very wisely for them
/ selves. they teach what pleases the
king That kind Of thing, too, has
! been done in the old country"
$50 I am the expected knight sent
from Khrym."
"You told them So"
GLOW the deceit is TO be kept up
/ don't know"
"First of all, lock up that conscience
of yours for bit and play the game
to the end"
"There seems nothing else TO he
done"
do you know what my name is
supposed to be?"
u think you IRE nameiess at pres
/ ent. 1t is of little consequence. If
necessary I'd just be too great per
sonage altogether to have Il name and
let them dub you what they will.
/ Then, Sir Knight, whatever your name
/ is, ] am your humble squire"
The next morning was clear and
/ sunny Our quarters overlooked
large square, which appeared to be the
/ center Of the town, and, although II
was early when ] gwoke, the business
/ Of the day was commenced. O'Ryan
was still sleeping, and | did not wake
i him Men and women were hurry1ng
/ to and fro across the square, some
]
with their neighbors, talking eagerly,
/ and / could not help thinking that
/ their conversation was of me Look
/ ing across the town, ! could see
/ large portion of the camp, where all
was movement and hustle, urmor and
/ arms glistening in the sun, and the
4 dull rumble of many voices assembled
TO my ears. Beyond the camp, across
the spur of the lower hills, ] could see
/ the summit of Khrym standing out
white against the blue Sky.
The sound Of trumpets broke my rev
erie. Into the square marched u troop
of warriors with lances sloped and
with rhythmical tread and in the
midst Of them, attended by a dozen
knights. was Princess Daria. She rode
as q man. clothed in a light coat of
mail, low steel helmet upon her head,
from underneath which strayed a lock
/ or two of her hair Her limbs were
cased in steel, and her horse was in
armor No wonder her soldiers wor-
shipped her!
"A brave show, Sir Knight"
/ had not heard Organ stirring, and
/ ne startled me
"a warlike young woman" ne went
on THAT cavalcade going along
/ Whitehall would make London think
little. Very warlike, but still wom-
an Don't forget that"
"Am ] likely TO forget it?"
Caught already. Ell? Well, the WON
en- in this country take a lot Of beat
4 ing. I'm wondering how my wife in
4 the capital yonder is getting on. If ]
ever get back ! expect III have TO do
some more hacking for her. When ]
don't turn up she'll say, Poor Dennis,
/ he's dead and then
''WeIl?" ] said as he paused
"Then she'll marry some one else"
"Are there no widows. thenY
"a few old ones The young are
/ philosophical Mike may be a better
man than Pat but Pat living is worth
any number Of dead Mikes"
''Cheer up, Organ" said. 'You
must win her bRek If necessary"
The center Of the square was kept
/ clear, and here about noon three sets
/ Of double stakes We're fixed firmly in