The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-05-13
CHAPTER III.
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IN" when a score of men. SINH.
larly accoutered to my COM
GetlJ panions. rushed upon u.s. The
struggle was short and sharp. + was
unable TO make any kind of resistance
and was dragged from my horse and
my hands tied securely behind me-
Organ and his men fought desperate
ly, and for n few minutes the clash
of steel woke the echoes OF the wood
But numbers told. Organ was knock
ed out of his saddle and was bound as
| was, and three of his men were
also taken prisoners Six men lay
dead, two of ours and four Of the enc.
my. bearing terrible witness to the
fact that the fight had been no child's
play. 1t was my first experience of
medieval warfare, but 1t was not des-
tined to be my last.
with luck wS may get to heaven"
Organ whispered TO me, "but | don't
think well ever get to Yadasara.
Prisoners of war get badly handled.
We'd be better off lying with those
poor devils yonder."
Surrounded on every side by noun
tains. twilight is of short duration in
Drussenland. 1t was dark long before
we came to our journeys end. and in
spite of Organs gloomy forebodings
] was not sorry to reach the rebel
headquarters.
The rebel camp. which was set
around Il good sized town, called
Meera. learned later, lay between
two spurs of the hills. and we came
upon it suddenly. Organ and were
taken into barrack yard full of arm
ed men and after our hands had been
united We're locked I'm n dungeon We
were in absolute darkness and for
some moments stood quite still and
were silent. Then Organ growled
out long string Of oaths. which must
have given him considerable trouble
to collect. and ended by consigning
himself 10 perdition for leaving his
flask in his saddlebag.
flood of daylight pouring into the
darkness through the open doorway
awoke me and almost blinded me too.
rose to my feet, but the two soldiers
who entered had not come for me.
Hty SuODh " itNul. Nhpt hlNti l'"
sleepy grunts, stood up. very wide
awake indeed.
"Wanted so soonf" he said.
One of the soldiers answered In the
Affirmative.
Good. Far better than long wait
ing" he said. and he shook hands with
me.
The next moment he was gone The
door closed and was locked again, and
i was alone. Perhaps an hour elapsed
before the door opened again. A SOL
der entered and placed on the floor
some food and a hagon of wine.
thanked him, and he saluted me. He
waited until | had eaten some of the
food and drunk the wine, with what
relish l leave to the Imagination, and
then requested me to follow him. Out
side a small guard received me, and
l was taken across the barrack yard,
which was full Of life and business,
to building on the opposite side.
II must have been about noon when
body of warriors more imposing than
any | had yet seen marched Into the
yard. The officer came to me.
'The princess holds council, and am
commanded to bring you before her"
he said.
inclined my head.
My journey to the council hall was
through the streets and many people,
chiefly women and old men. had gath.
cred to see me pass. We turned into a
courtyard surrounded on three sides by
massive stone buildings and, marching
straight across. halted for n moment
before gates which opened into great
hall. At each end Of the building was
n huge round window. but the lighting
WAS insufficient, md the place was
gloomy The floor was Of stone flags,
worn II GOOD deal and indeed the
whole r'Nire looked old. | know little
OF architecture. hut although the style
was common In DruSSenland | have
seen nothing like II elsewhere, Seated
IN the center or the hall on platform
was woman surrounded by knights
who were clad In steela goodly sight
TO look upon. IL strange TO such eyes
az mine Just below the platform on
either side stood dozen men In loose
garments reaching from shoulder to
heel, tied Mt the waist with white
sash, the ends of which fell to the
ground. Each wore white skullcap.
They were all elderly men, and their
hair and boards had been allowed TO
grow at viii.
To say that the princess was the
most beautiful woman my eyes had
ever rested upon Is hardly TO describe
her. The whole OF Princess Daria's
world allowed that she was the most
beautiful of women. and the women
OF Drusscnland are beautiful Her
warriors, from the highest knight to
the humblcst soldier, worshlped her
md In .u...rn nhnh innnn 10 Him ,rhn