The Bronze Statue, or, The Virgin's Kiss — page 62: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

a ‘y 60 THE BRONZE STATUE. back to the place where their sixth comrade had remained in charge of the horses. A few moments more—and they all fled in the same direction taken by the monk. The pa’ty whose appearance hd proved ; | | : to exert every effort in order to recapture | the fugitive. Bl This little delay was however so far | serviceable to th? Knight, that it enabled | him, even while borse along with wirlwind ) speeed, to stoop down in such a manner/so opportune in respect to sir Rruest de that he succeeded in unfastening the end , Colinar, consisted of fifteen horsemen all of the rope from his right leg: but scarcely | well armed and in attendance upon their ie had he accomplished this point, when the | chief, who appeared to be a fine man of | gallant horse which bestrode stumbled | middle age, and with a benevolent expres- over a large stone in the road, and feil so;sion of countenance; for at ihis moment abruptly that Sir Ernest de Colmar was'the moon, bursting from behiud a cioud, . unable to regain his feet ere the Carthu- sian with his party galloped upto the spot. The armed men sprang from their steeds —surrounded the Knight—and made him their prisoner in a moment; for not only was his left foot entangled in the stirrup on ac- count of the cord which was fastened to it —but he was likewise without any weapon of defence. At this instant, however—when hope appeared altogether to abandon the gallant de Colmar—the sound of numerous horses’ hoofs, coming from the opposite direction to that hitherto pursued by the Carthusian’s party, were heard rapidly approaching. ‘Gag him—bind h'n—and lose nota moment!’ ejaculated the priest, in a voice denoting the excitement of « sudden terror lest assistance sliould be at hand to rescue his victim. But inspired with an almost superhuman strength, Sir Ernest de Colmar resolved on making one more effort to baffle his ene- mies ; and bursting away from those who held him in their powerful grasp, he sped towards the approaching horsemen. Five of his persecutors were however iminediately at his heels ; for the many hours’ privation of food which our hero had en- dured, had weakened his limbs so that he was easily overtaken;—and the priest, who had remained on horseback, galloped up to the spot, exclaiming, ‘Cut him down if he dare resist us again. Bnt, like the hunted lion that turns on its pursuers with the determination to sell its Jife as dearly as possible, Sir Ernest de Colmar suddenly faced about—sprang with irresistible fury on the foremost of the armed men—and wrenched from the vil- lain’s grasp the drawn sword that was already raised to cut him down. Armed with this weapon, end once more inspired by a marvellous strength—the ished a stronger lustre than tt had huherto given forth on this night of many and me- morable incidents. The chief of the party, imagining that Sir Ernest had been attacked by banditt, congratulated him on his escape from their predatory and murderous hands; and the Knight thought it as well not to explain away the impression thus received respect- ing the individuals who had just fled so precipitately from the spot. ? The villains, I perceive,’ he added, have led away with them the horse which I bestrode ; and ,In which direction are you journey- ing ?? demanded the chief of the party. ‘The sooner I reach Prague,’ responded the Knight, the better will it please me.’ ‘We also are journeying thither, ob- served the chief: ‘and meseems that in an hour or so our horses’ hoofs should ring upon the pavement of that city. “Tis already considerably past midnight—and my followers as well as myself are wearied with a long day’s ride. But we havea spare steed at your service, worthy travel- ler—and you will perhaps do well, after your recent experience’of the perils of the road, to accept our escort to Prague,’ ‘For these proposals f profler my best thanks,’ said the Knight. ‘And that you may know whom you have thus faid under an obligation which he will cheerfully redeem on the first opportunity, | take leave to announce myself as Sir Ernest de Colmar, a‘humble but faithful vassal of his Sovereign Highness the Duke of Ausiria. ‘With equal frankness,” responded the chieftain thus courteously addre: sed,—‘ and in the hope, Sir Knight, that we shall be- come better acquainted, do I introduce myself as the Count of Rosenberg,’ ‘Ah! I have heard enough of your Jord- ship to render me proud and happy thus to form your acquaintance,’ said the Knight: “ i ‘ “4 . ) is i} i) | effect of his dauntless spirit,—the Knight | . ! then, having mounted the horse which was succeeded in defending himself against the | | ) placed at his disposal, and riding by the Ae whole five assiilants, until a party of horse- | nobleman's side as the calvalcade was | men appeared upon the scenes again put in motion, he observed. ‘A few i Then the Carthusian wheeled his steed | days ago accident Jed me for a few minutes ii rapidly round and urged it to a precipitate |to the cottage of one of your lordship’s gallop: and his five companions rushed | furest-keepers—a certain Wildon—and he * ~~ - — A - mad a — >. ? oe “ VR SE ore Ze . - > . comicbooks.com