The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-18

heard the first dip. of an oar, but be- i fore could cry out third figure was at my side.
 It was Count Vasca- "Is it treachery?'' he whispered. 1 pointed to the river, where the dim outline of a boat was just discernible as it crept into the shadow of the great rock.
 'sI heard the sound of footsteps and 1 followed he said. How came you here?"
 "I could not sleep.'' He was silent for moment.
 Better let them think they have got away undiscovered. I will at once have sentry placed here. We will not give the alarm tonight Let's to i bed, Sir Verra1I. This means action i at last"
 "When?' asked.
 +fSoon surely since they take to spy i ing upon us. You grow impatient. I would that could trust all as trust you. There dre white ivered knights among us. Sir Ve.rall, or we had made more progress"
 He left me at my tent and with a good night went on toward his own l I told O'Ryan what had happened i and repeated the counts words.
 There has always been sentry by l the river,'' he said thoughtfu1ly. Per haps he knew who the fugftives were and had made arrangements for their easy escape
 "Aye, and was so anxious about them that he followed to make certain i that they got away safely"
 'sWe must keep close together, Ver-- rall, fighting or not Lie down and sleep. I'll watch. We'll not both sleep at the same time again."
 In one respect at leasH Yasca had 1 prophesied truly last night Quite ! early in the morning it was evident that the day was not to be an idle one. Troops of men moved along the oppo- site bank of the river toward the bridge of boats two miles up the Stream, a bridge which had been con- stantIy defended and which we had never attempted to force.
 It appeared as if neither side wanted an engagement They made no at- tempt to drive us off. yet had they at tackled US in full force I doubt if we should have been able to successfully ] resist them.
 Some thought of this kind was evi dently in Vasca's mind when he saw !! the enemy in motion.
 '"They have made up their minds at 1ast," he said to us who were with him. eve must prevent their cross ing the river. We are rather: the de lending than the attacking party now.''
 ? We rode toward the bridge, a goodly company, the. morning sunlight fash ing back from polished helmet and ar nor. At intervals a jest gave birth to laughter or a deep oath was growl- | ed out from the hoarse throat of a 1 warrior who thought no more of com ing battle than he did of taking his dinner.
 The enemy reached the bridge be- l fore US, and, although our archers poured black flights of swift arrows upon them, we could not prevent them crossing. and they dashed upon us on our side of the river.
 E'Sit tight and remember that you wear armor,' was O'Ryan's last piece of advice to me
 It was an equal fight, bravely waged. Many of my comrades I saw smitten from their saddles, even as many a 1 foeman fell, some to rise and stagger to refuge or another horse, some to lie | motionless while the victors trampIed over them. Yet I still was safe, my sword swinging heavily to right and left, now stayed by strong arm, now | crashing downward, a foeman falling under it's bite. Who fell beside me I did not know, but Walen and O'Ryan were close to me dealing out punish ment to all within the sweep of their | weapons. They were gallant fighters | both. I was glad to be in their com pany. My sword swung down again upon an enemy, and a cry of exulta- ton burst from my lips as I felt his armor split beneath the stroke and for a moment saw the crimson stain the steel's brightness. The lust of battle was upon me.
 A swordH' I cried as I flung mine down and reached toward one held up to me. Although my horse swerved at that moment, I caught the new weap- on, but not securely in my grip, and even as heard a warning cry behind me a new foe attacked me fiercely. I had seen him afar off in the battle towering above his comrades, a yer itable giant. His sword flashed the sunlight a good foot higher in the air than those about him and like a sickle into ripe wheat reaped a space around him. Now it flashed above me, and l l voa 17rnrora7sod Only foQT0Io crTip