The Spectator., 1916-01-25

fen Were Met by a SIeet of Missiles.
 their own kingdom. leaving behind them the befuddled monarch who had no idea that he had entertained such vipers.
 They never reached the confines of Grahoffen kingdom; instead they met the army of Cortislaw already afield and we'll across the neutral lands.
 Look" cried Sachio. "Cortislaw is afoot! By the Lord! Wonder comes a real king
 It was even so. Soon they were among the advance guards, the skir- mishers of the main force, which were advancing. In time they were brought to the bodyguard of the king himself. for Cortislaw marched with his men. after the fashion of monarchs of old. He had put all his fortunes to the test l that day.
 What Sachio," he said. as he grimly regarded that nobleman. You have failed again?"
 No your majesty, have not failed. l
 He opened the palm which he raised before the eyes of his king. In it lay the broken half of the Gretzhoffen coin.
 The coin,-by our lady, It is ours, Bring it to me closer. Give it to me! Let me see."
 "The secret is ours!" said he. "The | oh ,hA,. Tt lies in the northeast corner of | the palace, deep under the walls said | Sachio. Come let us march steadily. toward the unsuspecting city of Gretz- | hoffen, governed by an added king too far gone in his cups to suspect | danger of any sort-a king never strong. and now weaker than his wont at time when all the forces of real king were needed" They met no resistance at the walls of Gretzhoffen itself. The armies of King Michael were not in evidence. The people of GretZhoffen ran this way and that. leaderless. Where are our forces?" they demanded. Where is the army? Where is the king? Where is Count Frederick" To these demands came no present answer. The forces of the enemy ad- vanced along the avenues. Wonder 1t lies. your majesty" said Count Sachio, pointing to the castle which they approached. Deep be- meath the walls wonder in the north east corner my eyes saw the torture chamber of GretZhoffen."
 Did you find the treasurer" de- manded Cortislaw.
 No, your majesty. that was explora- tion fit for your majesty's hands alone. did not search for it. Rather I has tened to bring your majesty here in your own person." We soon shall know" said Cortis- law, and signaled the advance.
 The sound of hoofs and trampling | feet filled the streets of Gretzhoffen. | The army of Gretzhoffen. in close for nation, marched forward under the summons of the buglers Quickly pass ing down the main avenue which led to the palace, they spread out by col umns right and left, covering the full i front of that editice which lay before | them hidden in it's screen of shrub | bery.
 Look. your majesty" said Sachio, and pointed
 Through little break in the screen ing wall of green he saw the plume of Q horseman. who sat motionless as | though waiting.
 | One of their guards," exclaimed | rnrticIaw "Cn toE Ea hit, for nothing. Press on into the palace | itself.''
 | The frcnt ranks broke forward. each eager to be the first to take captive the foeman thus discovered. | Not one man. but many hundreds, met their coming-the forces of Gretx- hoffen in ambush. In the first front the picked men of the guard had been stationed under the screening shrub bery by the actual commander in chief of the Gretzhoffen forces that day none less than Count Frederick him. self
 In such brief time as had been al- lowed him, he had made his arrange ments and posted his forces in what he conceived to be the only feasible strategy. Now the jaws were sprung. Whether trap or victim should prove the stronger was later to be known
 The bugles of Gretzhoffen. high anG clear. sounded the counter-charge. The advancing forces of Grahofren were met full in the face by level sleet of missiles. and from their covering tho forces of GretzhofYen sprang out. sec tion after section. Face to face, line