The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-01-27
: FOURTEENTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER IL.
The Last Arh;trament

The Last Arbitrament.
The call to arms was as music to
Count Frederick's ears. Leaving his
idle, added king stepped in his follies,
he hurried to the front.
The army was ready enough to put
itself under his CONTROL recognized
him as the one ruler in all the realm
His quick orders, supplementing the
arrangements of the day before, soon
set all events in train. 1t had been
his plan to mask his men deep within
the town; and, as has been said, the
jaws Of the trap now were sprung.
The charge of the forces of King
Cortislaw was met by the counter
shock of the Gretzhoffen arms Fred
erick's forces sprang forward with the
enthusiasm of troops long in leash,
and swept back the invaders. For a
few moments the two lines writhed
here and there il deadly embrace. as
two well-matched wrestlers, neither
having the advantage.
Deep Within the palace Kitty had
forgotten her errand in the greater
import of these sudden events. The
coin had done all this-it was indeed
a thing of omen, a thing of destiny.
She peered from the palace win
dows here and there, seeking to gain
some knowledge of the fray. Now and
then a wounded man limped back.
Others came, carried by the litter
bearers of the palace. Defeat was at
hand for the defenders of the palace.
"Is there no hope, then?" she de-
manded of one of the high officials of
the household. Where are our re-
serves? See, our men can hold them
no longer-they must have help or all
is lost
The official, thus adjured, pulled
himself together for a moment of
thought.
YES" he exclaimed, there is a
regiment held in reserve back of the
palace, toward the water front"
Then summon them at once!" ex-
claimed the young woman
Presently the retiring troops heard
the sound of bugles, the clatter of
hcofs from the opposite direction;
saw the advance of the Gretzhoffen
reserves so badly needed. They swept
on now to the front. rallying their
retreating men. The leader of the
reserves looked around for the COM
mander of the battle; instead he saw
the figure of young girl flash down
the palace steps and hurry toward
them.
"Yonder!' she cried. "He is at the
front, supporting their full attack"
1t was time now for the reserves,
that was sure. Close to his own thin
ming front line, Frederick sat, from
his saddle scanning the work of bat
terry hidden somewhere back of the
advance of the Grahoffen troops,
which was raining ruin on his own
men. 1t was hidden somewhere, he
could not tell where, although he
swept the line beyond with the
glasses time after time.
At last he found 1t, marked it by
the smoke belched from a screen of
green-green branches dashed to the
frames of guns.
Count Frederick called an officer to
him. 1--WE must take that battery" he
said. IF we don't, in five minutes
we will be gone."
Meantime Sachio himself, bold lead
er of armed men, albeit self-seeking
courtier, openly exulted at what
seemed to him the quick success of
his country's arms. He held on, di-
rectly under the eye of Cortislaw him
self, and no unskilled soldier he now
showed himself to be.
I'm five minutes, your majesty"
said he, 1--WE will have broken their
frynt. There will remain nothing but
fosGls to advance"
His eye, skilled in observation in
such scenes, caught sight of the
mounted figure of Count Frederick,
leader of the Gretzhoffen arms. He
recognized him in the distance-and
quickly sent orders to the officer Of
the battery. Whether or not it was
due to this slight change of aim, the
next salvo from the hidden guns &C.
complished that which Sachio most
desired. Sachio turned his glasses
once more upon the spot where his
enemy had sat. His horse was down,
blown to pieces by the explosion of q
shell. and the tall figure of Frederick
himself lay prone!
Nov, forward, men!" cried Sachio.
They have broken! They will run!
At them with the bayonet! Charged"
The Grahoffen troops swept for.
ward. Man to man. now, the ultimate
issue must be determined. 1t was at
this moment that. coming ON at a
gallop from the protection of the pal.