The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1912-08-23

Pew moments SySly thing WAS quiet
again. and 10 managed 70 lead old
Molly out Into the road without any
further mishap. He had plenty Of
light now. for thsrs was = full moon,
but he did mot leap into the saddle at
one bound. because that huge saber
would get In the way.
+; When. at last. he had mounted he
headed his hery steed toward the
woods. which lay about two miles OH.
Molly was very drowsy. and It took
several slaps with the nat OF the saber
to start her. but finally she dropped
into q dog trot, which she seemed
able to keep up indefinitely. Sir John
logged along for some time.. and felt
very happy. But soon the picturesque
helmet grew uncomfortably heavy.
The young knight tried to persuade
himself that it did not hurt, that he
would really feel uncomfortable with
out his "armor." At last, when his
headgear became unbearable. he re-
membered how "the knight barred his
head and drank in the sweet air"
With great relief he followed his
hero's example. But this was only
temporary relief. Before long his
head developed an amazing tendency
to nod, and he yawned till his eyes
were full Of tears. It seemed as IL
he had been In the saddle for hours,
and he wondered why the woods seem
ed to recede. BY a mighty effort he
at last reached the forest and dis
mounted, after another struggle with
his saber. He hitched Molly to con-
;venient tree and threw himself on the
ground. A moment more and Sir John
was in dreamland.
I. Now, Molly had never approved of
these proceedings, and as she thought
of her comfortable stall at home she
gave an impatient toss to her head.
The knot. which sleepy little Sir John
had only half tied, came loose. and
Molly found herself free. Immediate.
~ she started for home. and in half
an hour she strolled in at the barn
door. which the knight Grant had left
wide open behind him.
Meantime the aforesaid knight had
found the tree roots rather hard. and
had decided to resume his march. rests
ing when he should find more com-
Portable spot. Imagine his consternai
ton when he could not find his trusty
steed. He called again and again, but
no Molly appeared. Then he noticed
how lawfully dark" 1t really wasj
Some Of those trees looked mighty
funny. What was that? Only the
leaves rustling. They never sounded
20 In tho daytime. Why didn't the
sun come up? A ghostly screech'
pierced the air. The blood Of Sir
John the Valiant ran cold. Again that
awful ''Whoo oo-oo." and Sir John
took to his heels In ignoble fight. He
tripped on his saber and fell, but was
too frightened to rise. and SO lay still
and sobbed. At last he sobbed him
SELF asleep. and when he awoke the
sun was shining brightly through the
trees. He was very hungry. and stid
good deal frightened. He had lost
the corn bread from his pockets. and
he thought longingly Of the bacon that
his mother cooked for breakfast. He
got up and started to walk; but the
sword dragged him back. All his de-
sire for adventure had vanished with
the night. He trudged along, carry.
ing the sword in his arms.
Some time later very humble
knight errant stood at the kitchen
door, looking into the worried face Of
his father.
"Air ye goin' to lick me, paw" was
what he said.
But his mother ran to him and kiss
ed him. and cried, and Sir John the
Valiant laid his head on his mothers
shoulder and cried, too.