The Armourer's Apprentice — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

1 ae + oe KG =x : ’ 4 ts LM b 7 . faithful companion man _ way to a side portion of t Pe = a ‘ ieee you if you will retire toa monastery. You, “Because I have been examining the are more fitted to the cowl than to the helmet. before it is too late. Think over my words Come, Giafis, we Farewell must be on our way.” Turning in contempt on the craven knight, Sir Stephen led the way out of the apartment. It was not without some difi- culty and danger that Sir Stephen and his ed to make their e castle. They met many soldiers, but all taking | a him for the Seraskir De Courcy, at once iet _ him pass without further question. As they advanced towards the sentinel, Sir Stephen, imitating De Courcy’s voice, said, loudly— er They cannot have left the castle. Stull, the Sheik Almanzor must be obeyed, and I will go forth and examine the pass down the rocks myself. What ho, there! guard.” The guard being thus summoned at once turned out, and seeing, as they thought, the highest oficer in the castle, at once - saluted him in the most respectful manner, “Open the gate! I would pass ont. - These spies of the infidel must be found !” “May Allah direct the footsteps eatness,” said the Saracen o must have the password.” “Ramadan !” replied our hero. “Pass, Ramadan. Let the gates be of your cer; “ but opened to the great Seraskir Kadagar.” The gates were slowly opened, and the next moment our hero and Giaffa were free. Free, but with dangers on all sides of them ! The path dowu the rocks was most dan- gerous. Yawning chasms opened their black mouths as if to swallow them. One false step and they might be dashed to pieces, and the night was dark and the weather boisterous. Stumbling, scrambling, now nearly fall- mg, they managed to reach the plain. “Thank Heaven, we are safe!” muttered Gioffa. “We can make our way to the Jew's,” scarcely had he said the words when shouts were heard in the darkness, and some six mounted Saracens rode up. | “Stand!” said the leader of the party, _ and tell who you are?” “Wrhends!” replied Stephen, and then added—“ I am your Seraskcir Kadagar.” ‘““ How now, my lord ? What brings you so far from the castle ?” “Tt has pleased the sheik to order me to By. os examine the mountain in person. I can find no traces of these escaped prisoners, and shall advance some little way across _ the plain.” “ But why is your lordship not mounted?” ad emi the n man. 3 - THE ARMOURER'S APPRENT! 10K. plain, | that it was done in open fight, es “not by footpaths in the’ mountain. But you can n dismount and give me your horse. One of our men Can give my man his anime 3 You will then return tothe castle, and tell the sheik that I have pushed on ‘the | sea : across the plain.” i, * But, my lord; surely you will not g ZO with so ‘small an attendance ?” As “Slave! dareyondictatetome? Dismount | a once. Do you think I am such a cowat a a you are that I dare not ride with « one “3 follower, oraloneifineed be?” ie “Yeravye your excellency’s forgiveness,” muttered the fellow, as he dismounted. By this ruse Sir Ste Poste and his compat SS ion gained 2 couple of splendid horses. Having leaped on to their backs, Sir Stephen, in a tone of command, ordered the men to go back at once to the castle, and report what had happened ; then, turning his horse’s head, he sped away 43 ‘swift. & a the wind, fol'owed as rapidly by -Giaffa, — Many miles had been covered by the noble. Arab steeds when loud shouts behind fold © them that the ruse had been discovered. - "a 3 Sir Stephen reined in his horse and li st ened, and soon discovered that the ¢ a were far too distant to cause him any fear, although it was evident that everything was being done to capturethem, = Lights could be seen flitting here and. there about the mountain, whilst the ¥ ld halloo of the horsemen sounded over 1 the 2: “ Put your horse to it, Giaffa,” init Ir hero; “they must have fieet.. horses ‘tha X; ) will overtake us.” sot Away they sped, and reached the rs hut in safety. Here they quickly changed their ments for the ones they had previont ay worn, and mounting their own horses, which were quite fresh, once more pursued their journey. ii The sun was high in the heavens wher 1 our hero and his companion dashed into me English camp, and at once ‘Sir Stephen n sought an interview with the king. =~ e found Richard of Englan foa ming with rage, and quickly girding on his gigantic sword. “Ha! Sir Stephen, thou art welcome? ? cried the king. “So thou hast crawled out f of the jaws o ‘the dragon, Ssip Mal med Abu ?”’ oe B x “The Sheik Mahomed Abu is anid Pyate “Dead! Would that Philip of f eb; 3) the same. Tut! 1 mean not that. Cure these buckles! they do not i the should. But tell me, Sir Ste te: n, how came the sheik by his death? Was it thy hand which struck the blow ? If so, I trus if s.com 20 oe ss com goge. Re Gk: |