The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-10-20

R-s-.s 81
81 TOLD YOU THAT ALWAYS CRUSHED
MY ENEMIES
launches. The count was too good
horseman to let me succeed in this,
however He knew his advantage and
was not going to throw it away by
having to meet me on foot.
1.-THE time is nearing its end" he
laughed Il told you that l always
crushed my enemies"
He dealt me a blow which staggered
me as he spoke. The time was near
ing its end What could / do?
He followed me up as l staggered
back, prepared to strike again.
| made a feint, then lodged his
blow and sprang up at him, my foot
upon his foot in the stirrup. My arms
we're round him. His horse plunged.
and in an instant the count and were
on the ground Now we were both
swordless and helmetless. My fingers
gripped his throat.
"The time has conner | Kissed as,
still gripping his throat with one hand,
struck his head twice. thrice. with
all my strength with the other.
I should have killed him. My fin
gers would never have relaxed until
they had gripped life out of him, but
II was not 10 be- Men rushed IN to
separate US. l was dragged from my
victim and a few moments later was
lying on my back. my arms bound to
my side.
The count was not dead. but he was
unconscious They took him up, and
a space was cleared for them to carry
him to some spot where he could be
attended to. And it was through this
space that / saw the last incident of
that terrible day-the end of the fight
The rising ground was before me. and
its gallant company of defenders lay
still upon the sides of ii. AS | looked
the enemies hands were laid upon the
princess. and only one friend was be-
side her-Jasar Foes surrounded her
and dragged her from her horse. See
ing that all was lost, the priest might
have considered that his life was still
valuable to his mistress. that he might
help her in her captivity. But the
hands were laid roughly upon her. and
that hurt him. His sword came down
upon the nearest of her enemies. and
for minute he was dealing out death
around him. They would not have
killed a priest. possibly. but Jasar
save in raiment. was a priest no long
er. As a warrior there was no quarter
for him, and | saw him fall dead at
the feet of the woman he had loved
and served so we'll
1t was the last thing saw-the last
episode of that day-for blackness
came between my eyes and the blue
sky. and for me the day ended.
When | recovered consciousness we
were within sight of Yadasara. I was
lying upon a rough litter. which four
men carried carefully, and the swing
ing motion was not unpleasant. My
arms were no longer bound, and the
wound in my shoulder. which throbbed
considerably, had been carefully band
aged up.
l raised my head to look about me-
you're better, them" said a man.
coming to the side of the litter.
Eyes. It's hot, and I'm thirsty. May
a prisoner drink"
'Why. yes We've been doing our
best to keep you alive since yester-
day"
"since yesterday! A day and a night
passed.
He nodded.
'You know me?'
"You were in my company when you
were in the kings guard"
II remember 1t is almost like being
among friends"
you'll hardly find it so yonder," and
he waved his hand toward the city.
81 suppose not. Tell ne. where is
the princess?"
sin front"
"Well-safe?"
'She is well cared for; have no fear
of that. You are both too precious TO
die for the want of little attention"
could l speak to herr
"No." he answered sharply.
mot for the sake of old comrade-
ship"
mo; | cannot do it. l have no i'll
will toward you. l admire a worthy
foeman, and if I can do anything for
you yourself l will. but ! cannot do
what you ask with regard to the prin-
cess"
"And Count vasca ?" | asked after a
pause