Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-04-20

yMI C1ooD DeHuiuS ONer the
lMl / handkerchief for a momen
Y6aMS0I and then hastily concealed it.
S9 l had almost forgotten what
OccasiOned the gift until rudely re-
minded by Walen as we left the hall
together.
Il fear you have played into vasca's
hands, Verrall," he said.
"Or he into mine"
"True, or he into yours. 1t is diff
cult to judge"
knowing so little of me, you would
say" | went on, putting, l knew, his
thoughts into words. MY dear Wa
len, l ask only a fair field and no IA
o A few true friends and a good
cause and success is half won"
"Men fall in a good cause. verrall."
ITO prove that 1t Is good to those
who remain" l answered.
III news gets abroad quickly, and
Organ had heard what had taken
place before l Joined him.
"yerrall, you're an almighty fool.
Sure, it's sorry l am to be compelled
to tell you the truth"
II don't fancy you've succeeded In
doing 1t now. There was nothing for
it but a bold move Vasca had de-
termined to force me into this fight
and to leave no loophOle for escape.
Better surely to grip the situation firm
~ and trust to luck"
"Luck!" he exclaimed. II know what
vasca can do. You don't"
81 very soon shall"
I'D like to change places with you,"
Organ said.
"a piece Of national conceit. My
lance play may be as good as yours"
"Sure, that's not it at all. The one
who fights dies fighting; the one who
is left dies there. I'm the one who's
left. That is what troubles me-" And
he waved his hand toward the square
Its a bad sign when a man barks
as loudly as Vasca does" | said.
"That's a sound enough argument
when civilization has knocked half the
fighting power out of Il man, but its
just meaningless here. In arussen
land a man daren't bark unless he can
bite. I'd giye.a good deal to be back IN
Yadasara. The place Is full OF black
guards. to be sure. but they're black
guards you can understand-none o.
these tournament businesses and non.
sense of that kind"
There were three days of waiting
before the tournament. three days il
which | had to steel myself to behave
calmly, as usual. three days during
which | could hardly remain still fol
a moment.
The day dawned bright and sunny
but with a keenness in the air which
perhaps my nervous excitement exag
gerated. | woke early and never. sure
ly, have hours been SO leaden winged
as they were that morning.
I'VE will not be the. first to arrive
said O'Ryan, curbing my Impotence
ut would only be to show anxiety
(Which, of course. we do not feel.
l said, with a nervous laugh.
We waited in silence until 1t wa'
time to co.. and in silence we rode II
the camp.
Plentiful as the accommodation II
the lists had seemed to me. 1t was evi
IDENTIFY not too much. Every seat. CIV
ery point of vantage. had been taken
There were two entrances reserved TO
the knights who were to take part Il
the days proceedings, facing each 9th
or and shut off from the arena by
barrier which was only opened to lie
a knight pass in to combat.
On one side of the lists was a gallery
in which were the marshal and hi
heralds, and opposite a similar gallery
where Princess Daria sat with her rel
inue. My eyes were riveted on TN
gallery. but could not tell whethe
she had noticed me or whether sh
looked anxious or Indifferent.
"Your time approaches. Verrall,
said Organ, looking to the harness 0
my horse.
The trumpets sounded, and a roa
of welcome came from a thousah
throats. Other. combats had excited
but nv entrance heralded the perform
ance which had brought this crowd u
pether. AS / rode past the gallery III
marshal and his attendants rose |
give me courteous welcome. so ha
they risen to each knight as ne Ell
tered the lists, but there was keene
criticism in their eyes as they rose I
mo Some friends l had among then
some enemies. could probably nav
F divided friends from foes by the e.
preston on their faces. kept m
t horse well in hand. ! had no desir
e now to show of CALAMITY. The bus
9 ness before me was too serious an
might all too soon give the lie TO q
warlike appearance. Slowly | Wake