The Ocala evening star., 1911-04-12
CHAPTER Ill.

kGZy panions, rushed upon US. The
struggle was short and sharp. l 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 a 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
I 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 childs
play. 1t was my first experience of
medieval warfare, but it was not des-
tined to be my last.
with luck we may get to heaven"
Organ whispered to me, but | don't
think We'll 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
l was not sorry to reach the rebel
headquarters.
The rebel camp, which was set
around q good sized town, called
Meera, l learned later. lay between
two spurs of the hills, and we came
upon it suddenly. Organ and were
taken into q barrack yard full of arm
| ed men and after our hands had been
united We're locked in a 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 to perdition for leaving his
flask in his saddlebag.
A food of daylight pouring into the
darkness through the open doorway
awoke me and almost blinded me too
1 rose to my feet. but the two soldiers
who entered had not come for me-
They shook Organ, who, after n few
sleepy grunts, stood up, very wide
awake indeed.
"Wanted so soon?' 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
was alone. Perhaps an hour elapsed
before the door opened again. A sol
dier entered and placed on the floor
some food and f1agon of wine. l
thanked him, and he saluted me. He
waited until l 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 q small guard received me, and
was taken across the barrack yard,
which was full of life and business.
to a building on the opposite side.
1t must have been about noon when
q body of warriors more imposing than
any l had yet seen marched into the
yard. The officer came TO me.
''The princess holds council, and am
commanded to bring you before her, y
he said.
l inclined my head.
/ MY " luc w dS
through the streets, and many people
chiefly women and old men, had gath
cred to see me pass. We turned into q
courtyard surrounded on three sides by
massive stone buildings and, marching
straight across, halted for q moment
before gates which opened into great
| hall At each end Of the building was
| a huge round window, but the lighting
was insufficient, and the place was
gloomy. The floor was Of stone flags
worn a good deal, and indeed the
whole edifice looked old / know little
of architecture. but although the style
was common in Drussenland | have
seen nothing like it elsewhere. Seated
In the center of the hall on a platform
was a woman surrounded by knights
who were clad in steel-a gOOdly sight
to look upon. if strange to such eyes
as mine. Just below the platform or
either side stood a dozen men in loose
garments reaching from shoulder tc
heel. tied at the waist with white
sash, the ends Of which fell to the
ground. Each wore white skullcap
They were all elderly men. and theil
hair and boards had been alloweda tc
grow at will.
To say that the princess was the
most beautiful woman my eyes hat
ever rested upon is hardly TO describe
her The whole of Princess Daria':
world allowed that she was the mos
beautiful of women. and the wOmeI
of DrusSenland are beautiful Hel
warriors, from the highest knight II
the humbieSt soldier. worshiped he
and had sworn obedience to him wht
should win her for himself Ny frs
impression was that she was fit to rult
those who bowed before her. Sh,
| looked queenly and their mistress
Seated in her chair Of state as | frs
saw her. she looked Il princess; sh'
looked what she was the idol OF be
people. and she looked more. a woman
man could love.
Every eye was turned toward NJ
as l advanced up the hall Certainl,
never before had / been such cente,
Of attraction. saw Organ standing
at the foot of the platform between
two soldiers, but As ! approac ached h
eluded their vigilance and. Tushin!
toward me. fell on his knee and kiss
ed my hand, whispering as he did so:
| admit everything It's our onl.
! chance"
Continued Tomorrow