The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-03-28


upon an enemy, and a cry of exulta-
ton burst from my lips as | felt his
armor split beneath the stroke and for
moment saw the crimson stain the
steers brightness. The lust of battle
was upon me.
"a sword" | cried as | flung mine
down and reached toward one held up
TO me. Although my horse swerved at
that moment. | caught the new weap-
ON. but not securely In my grip, and
even us | heard warning cry behind
me new foe attacked me fiercely.
had seen him afar off i'm the battle
towering above his comrades, a ver-
liable giant. His sword flashed the
sunlight good foot higher In the air
than those about him and like sickle
into ripe wheat reaped n space around
him. Now IL flashed above me, and
was unprepared. Only feeble grip
had OF my own weapon. and scarce
could | stay his first tremendous
stroke. could see that Walen was
straining his utmost 10 reach me, see
ing my difficulty doubtless, but he
was hemmed in. pressed on either
side Much had he TO do TO keep his
own saddle without helping me keep
mine. | felt that the decisive moment
| of the fight had come. One side or the
other must quickly yield, and l strug-
gled nightly to get firm hold of my
sword. 1t seemed to turn and slip In
my mailed hand A second stroke
from my enemy fell upon me, break
ing down my guard, and yet ! stayed
its fury. 1t glanced from my armor.
and clutched ut my sword desperate
ly. The man was a giant, but his
movements were quick. Perhaps he
saw how was placed and was savage
that his victor had not been more
easily accomplished. 1t maddened me
TO think that / could not meet him
fairly. / cursed the weapon in my
hand; 1t must have been loose at the
hilt. l cursed the man who, falling,
had snapped my own. My teeth were
clinef in impotent rage.
The fury of our combat, or / should
say, rather, his, had cleared space
about us. Ny sword twisted in my
grasp as he came upon me again. l
|
fury and given up the fight. But he
saved me from that folly. He struck,
and my sword was wrenched from me
altogether. For one moment / saw IL
, flying through the air, and / thought
that the end had come We were side
by side; our horses seemed to be lock
ed together. / heard him grunt In
sava;e satisfaction as he raised him
SCI "a hiss stirrups to strike again and
live me my quietus. But as he rose
so did /, and, swinging my arm, al
most flung myself from the saddle ms
| with all the strength l had / struck
, his head with my clinched mailed
t fist. 1t was good blow. l felt his
head jerk as bone clicks in its sock
| ct, and, giant that he was, he reeled II
his saddle, his sword falling lightly
and harmlessly across me. At ieas
we were on equal terms now. But
no: the blow had done It's work
{ striking In his helmet It may be, To-
! as the horse plunged the rider rolled
, to the ground and lay there.
\ "Well struck, Sir Verrall"
walen was beside me. a new swort
was i'm my hand, this time held in {
, grip of iron, but there was little worl
7 for it to do Almost before we re
: allied the fact the enemy We're max
8 ing for the bridge.
a "Are we never 10 cross the riverF
/ asked "Of what use is a victor!
n unless we follow 1t upT"
l,.-o cx;x.a,, ,,n frvfnO n road tho
4 riddle" Walen answered. "Probabl.
we shall return and be feted as though
" we had done great deeds"
r "And we have done nothing. If he
&c highness"-
ir "She, after all, is woman, Sir Ver
rail-" he said. what should sh
m know of WARP
In "a woman, maybe" 1 answers
rather holly, "but at heart warrior
r / warrant you"
Id The next day the camp was strucl
III and we were returning, almost like n
treating, as Organ put 1t.
Id "It's hard after such fight that W
te should gain nothing by it," he salt
Mt although, for my own part, 1t please
e. me we'll enough"
o. "You are more easily satisfied tina
ne l am"
ne Doesn't It occur to you that hay
n been fighting against my formt
I'd friends and comrades?"
"Well, what of 1t? Ysu are In Il
ed service of the princess now, with SUI
IT promotion before you. What moi
IT. would you have"
We "a little better knowledge of Il
ly future, Sir Verrall. There Is too muC
jealousy surrounding the princess. "
VI had not been going back now were
Nv not so. / say again we might be
retreat were 1t not for those poor dew
at of prisoners. They bespeak us co
=: querors, but where is the honor In
lth few prisoners?"
S. Twill they be-
ie- And then / paused.
rty "Spitted in the market place?
certainty they will"
lily / was thoughtful. These prisone
sh- troubled me.
ar
Eth ha roptipnad