Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1916-02-04
FOURTEENTH lNSTALLMENT
CHAPTER II.
The Last Arbitrament,

The Last Arbitrarent.
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. It 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 Gret2hoffen arms. Fred.
erick's forces sprane forward with the
enthusiasm OF troops long in leash,
and swept back the invaders. For
few moments the two lines writhed
here and there In 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
thing Of omen, 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, them" she de-.
manded OF enc 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 IL q
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
hoofs 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 fash down
the palace steps and hurry toward
them.
"Yonder!" she cried. HE is at the
front, supporting their full attack"
II 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. II was hidden somewhere, he
could not tell where, although he
swept the line beyond with the
glasses time after time.
At last he found It, marked II by
the smoke belched from screen of
green-green branches dashed to the
frames Of guns.
Count Frederick called an officer to
him. I'VE must take that battery" he
said. III we don't. in five minutes
we will be gone"
Meantime Sachlo himself, bold lead.
er Of armed men, albeit self.s ,eking {
courtier. openly exulted at what
seemed to him the quick success of
his country's arms. He held on, d.
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, I'VE will have broken their
front. There will remain nothing but
'or US to advance"
His eye. skilled in observation in
such scenes, caught sight of the
figure Of Count Frederick, !
eader of the Gretzhoffen arms. He
him In the distance-and
quickly sent orders to the officer of
he battery. Whether or not II was
lue to this slight change Of aim, the .
lext salyo from the hidden guns &C.
,orplished that which Sachio most
lesired. Sachio turned his glasses t
ace more upon the spot where his t
'nemy had sat. His horse was down, t
'lown to pieces by the explosion OF Q
hell, and the tall figure Of Frederick i
himself lay prone!
Now, forward, men!" cried Sachio. I
They have broken! They will run! 2
1t them with the bayonetl Charged" .
The Grahoffen troops swept for Q
ward. Man to man, now, the ultimate Z
ssue must be determined. 1t was at r
his moment that, coming on at -
,allop from the protection OF the pal q
&c grounds, the reserve regiment do. n
iloyed into action IN Ssgimehtal frnnt, c
he leader cheering his men on into L
he charge. They met the advancing I
Infantry Of Grahoifen, many Of them q
With their ritiaa unloaAad. danAndinR :,