The daily Alaskan., 1916-08-02

he was washed and fed and armed for soldier. The next dayAhe met Eleanor hurrying through the Pcourtyard and said to her:
 Good lady. have your permission to point out to you certain weak points in the castle?'
 "You have"
 Taking her to a part, of the wall he showed her that 1t was ready to tu1n- ble. Then, in the armOryH he convinced her that most of the weapons were blunt and certain armorthad rusted till it could be punctured with wooden sword. Lending her here and there. he showed her various imperfections, and she gave orders that they should be made good.
 Going to her father, she asked him who was to lead in the defense. He replied that he would command. Then she told him about the released prison CT who had noticed the deficiencies and suggested that he be made second in command since be seemed to have been trained for a soldier and there were no leaders among the defenders of the castle. The king said that he cared not who was second In command, for all must obey his own orders. But It made no difference. he added, who commanded since defeat was inevi- table.
 When Eleanor told Harold that be would command under her father he said to her;
 "Thanks, lady, for an opportunity to crack crowns with this bandy legged, red headed usurper If we do not knock the circlet off his head and the scepter out of bis hand. then die here In Gloucester castle"
 This encouraged Eleanor, though she did not understand what he meant by cracking crowns, nor could she account for his desire to defeat Q man in whose ranks he had fought. But she was so intent on saving the kingdom from the enemy that she gave no thought to any, thing else.
 Harold at once took charge of all preparations In this he was not sub. | feet to interference, for the old king was lamenting his fate in his apart ments. At last the army of Conrad was seen marching in the valley, aud when 1t reached the bottom of the hill on which Gloucester castle was situat. ed the men encircled 1t, and 1t was evi- dent that if they did not take It by storm they would starye the garrison into subjectiOn.
 The king of Gloucester came out clad in a suit of armOr, but 1t was too heavy | for his reduced strength. He stumbled and fell under its weight and was car ried back to his room. This gave Har old full control He gave Eleanor his plan. It was to act so that the invad. CTS would believe that they had only to take their ease for a short time and their enemies would have to sur. render for want of provisions. When they seemed most confident Harold would strike.
 | So he sent a deputntion to say that since they had but five days provisions the men of Gloucester. must surrender and to ask what terms would be grant ed. Conrad said that be would grant no conditions. The deputation return ed in the evening. and Conrad expected | to receive a surrender the next day. l Till midnight he and bis army made | the night ring with sOug and shouting. They had not finished carOusipg when the castle clock struck 2. Slowly the portcullls was raised. the dra wbridge | (tle chains had been oiled 10 prevent z. rattleJ let down. and the little army
 Of Gloucester led by Harold, silently emerged and, dividing into four bands. | bore down from the four points of the compass upon the men of Conrad and
 with a yell began to stab and hack those who were sober enough to resist them and cut down those who attempt | ed to rise.
 Harold had noted the tent of Conrad. | and while the usurper, half drunk, was endeavoring to get On his arms the late ! prisoner raised his sword and brought | it down, cleuying his enemy's shoulder | Conrad was felled by the blow, and | Harold. standing over him with raised | sword. said:
 T am Harold, king of Warwick, come to avenge the death of my father. l came from exile and without being known joined your retainers as they
 were setting out to fight my fathers old enemy of Gloucester. came to watch my opportunity for vengeance on you. It has come"
 When Conrad was killed his army was fleeing down the hill. As soon as | they heard that their leader was dead they gave up all hope of getting safely back to Warwick and expected to pass the rest of their lives in the dungeons | of Gloucester. In the morning Harold rode down to them and. calling them | together. announced himself as their legitimate king Conrad had been hat ed by them. and they received Harold's announcement with joy.
 Harold bade them re-establish their camp and promised to lead them to TT-., s,I- lao h,y AI,