The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-10-20
The Knight
of the
Silver Star

Iessening. Our true enemies and our
traitor friends were beginning to I'M
derstand one another
I'VE have shown them the men they
have to reckon with" answered.
Some show of fighting was still main
tanned in front of us, and our archers
sent quick flights of arrows into the
mass. They were all enemies there,
though they would not have us think
so yet. Then a mass of horsemen came
toward us at a hand gallon.
docs Vasca lead them? ! asked.
81 cannot see him." Walen answer
ed. you must live until later in the
day to pay your debt to him"
81 shall live to do it, answered as
we charged again.
felt that l spoke the truth.
1t was a fiercer struggle than the
first. Twice was nearly thrown from
my saddle. once. for few moments.
losing all consciousness of my sur
roundings and striking madly about
me as a man might do in a nightmare
II was fortunate for me that my horse
kept his legs. 1t was Walen's voice
that brought Inc back to consciousness.
mot too far, verrall. They are sur
rounding us"
Mechanically almost | swung my
horse round. and we began to fight our
way back Walen's warning opened
my eyes to the danger. and the press
of the enemy. who had closed in be-
hind us as we had fought our way
through the mass in front told me that
they had outmaneuvered us. Even
now we were too late. There was
triumphant shout as another body of
horsemen went by our struggling mass
and rode straight for the rising ground.
What could that little company do
against such an overpowering enemy?
For the princess!' | shouted, rising
in my stirrups and swinging my sword
with the renewed strength despair
flye me Back to the princess, ev-
cry one of US! Wen leave our bodies
there, not here
For the princessI' some one shout.
ed, and we dashed forward.
1t was no small body of horsemen
that turned to prevent US cutting our
way TO our comrades, but at least five
to one.
For the princess!' we cried.
For the king" they shouted an
swer
And from many it was a lying shout.
This was only the beginning of their
treason. They were bent on being as
false to the king presently as they had
already been to the princess.
Side by side Walen and l went,
inch by inch fighting our way toward
the rising ground. encouraging each
other, helping each other. How our
companions Jared | know not. Walen
and | seemed to be alone in the midst
of enemies. Still we went on step by
step. There seemed no power strong
enough to stop us. Success seemed
certain when suddenly l was alone. A
rush of horsemen parted us, and l saw
my comrade carried away from me,
hard beset. Still the fight was not lost.
| shouted to him, and he heard me. /
saw the horsemen nearest to him go
down as he turned, fighting his way
back to me, and | pressed my horse
forward to meet him. And we sue
ceeded. We did meet. but at what a
cost Even as l shouted in triumph
a sword flashed above him and fell,
splitting through his armor near the
neck.
1.-The princess?' he cried once, loud
ly as in full health. and then he pitched
forward from his saddle and lay al
most under my horses hoofs.
/ cut down the man who struck the
blow. and, my horse stumbling, | came
to the ground. falling across the bodies
of my friend and my foe
l was unhurt and sprang to my feet.
A clear space was round me. With his
sword in his hand Count Vasca looked
at me. He did not ride at me at once.
but he smiled
''The time has come. Sir verrall." he
said.
1t was his smile. not his words.
which maddened me.
'Ah, good foeman," cried, grant
me but little space to prove this man
a coward and a liar. and on my oath
will throw down my sword and you
can work your will upon me-"