The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1913-03-04
OF THE
S I A r
BY Percy
B0ae[5mer

enemy are hidden there awaiting us.
Your mission is to draw them from
their hiding place" Then, turning to
a knight with us, she went on: go
to the right wing and command them
to advance Through the woods and at
tack the enemy In the rear on that
side. There are half hearted warriors
among US. We shall know how to
deal with rebels. For Drussenland and
for your princess, forward"
I half expected the count to refuse,
but he did not do so. Either he was
uncertain of himself or the plans for
success were SO complete that the
manner of attack was OF little 1mpor-
lance.
He gave a quick word of. command,
and as the troops moved we rode back
and with the left wing set out to at
tack the enemy on that side.
There was a distant shout, and a
fight OF arrows fell among them.
eff a stray shaft should ind a weak
spot in Vasca's harness, all might be
well yeti said to Walen.
''He is not likely to run much risk"
he answered.
erYou are convinced now, thenf'
eyes, Verran. 1t VIII go hard with
us, think, but at least wen make
envy and the traitors before us, and
wen fight as we fought at the bridge.
Traitors are mostly towards, and they
shall pay a dear reckoning"
Horsemen came from the woods on
either side, and the battle In the open
became general.
The princess halted
'"Those men fight like hends," she
said 1.-The treachery Is not so deeply
rooted as you supposed, Sir verra11."
"a few mems lives are nothing to
those who conceived the treachery,"
said Jasar.
1.-THE greater the confusion yonder
the more safety for u.s. I said to Wa
len.
''Our turn win come. We have only
to wait" he answered.
With him / arranged what knights
were to keep with the princess.
''She will want you with her," he
said.
when the time comes ride side by
side with yOu,'' answered.
81 am glad" he returned.
We had not long to wait. From the
woods opposite a large body Of horse
men came slowly. I expected to see
them charge into the thick Of the
fight, but instead they suddenly made
a wide sweep and came toward us.
Our archers sent one flight of arrows
among them, and then we charged
Powerful as the enemy before us
were, they could not Withstand our
charge. We cut into them, sweeping
them back in confusion. The same
spirit was in us all. No quarter was
asked for nor given, and many rider,
friend and foe, lay with limbs out
stretched, his days work and his Hfe's
work over. We turned and swept
back again to the foot of the rising
ground on which Darta stood with the
company especially reserved to defend
her. They greeted us with cheer,
and we shouted answer. It sounded
like a cry of victory.
s'They were driven back upon the
main body, Sir sVerran. The face of
the battle is changing
Walen pointed with his sword. The
fight which had begun dercely was
Iessenfng. Our true enemies and our
traitor friends were beginning to IN
derstand one another
eve 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 gallop-
"Does Vasca lead them?'' I asked
'T cannot see him. WaIen answer
ed. ''You must live until later in the
day to pay your debt to him.
''I SHALL live to do it, answered as
we charged again.
I felt that spoke the truth.
1t was a dercer 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 q man might do in nightmare.
It was fortunate for me that my horse
kept his legs. 1t was Walen's voice
that brought me back to consciousness.
mot too far, Verra1l. They are sur
sounding u.s."
Mechanically almost 1 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 a
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 :?
'EFor the princessr' shouted, rising
in my stirrups and swinging my sword
with the renewed strength despair
gave me. Back to the princess, ev-
cry one Of us! Wen leave our bodies
there, not here"
'sFor the princessi'' some one shout
ed, and we dashed forward,
1t was no small body OF horsemen
that turned to prevent us cutting our
EaG to our comrades, but at least five
to one.
''F'or the princess!'' we cried.
''For the kingw they shouted an