The Armourer's Apprentice — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

, ‘= o -_ ." ri Sy x ‘ co % mn . ~ “od. ” . ' ines be : are P% - ie | A OL aR Sas y uae ity © Ste ‘ A Was? Be 800s 92 SURG 4 5 “<i ay . : ‘ . . a ’ ’ # Canst thou think 1 thus will lose thee ? _Canst thou hold my love so small? | No! A thousand times [ll perish! “ , : : - _ “Thatis ever the way with you lovers, but I blame you not. Love and war hath ever made up human happiness, and teach men to be brave and loyal. Take the men, Sir Stephen, and I warrant me the jewel which lies hidden in the stronghold of the Saracen will be rescued by you, and if it be, I pledge yon our royal word that none _ but you shall wed her. a ire. I will win her or die in the attempt,” cried the enraptured knight. ' “Do so; but temper passion with pru- dence. Be not rash. Remember that the best soldier is he who remains cool in the heat of battle. Would that I could accom- pany you on this expedition, but it may ‘not be. Philip of France, who watches all “my movements with jealous eyes, will declare I left him. No; you must go alone. I will see that the men who are to accompany you are all good men and true. When you have taken the stronghold—for ‘Ido believe you will carry it—place Sir oe ubert de Berg-as governor of the place, _ then with a few followers hasten back, for ‘in a few days Acre must fall.” | “Doubt not, sire, that I will do my best ‘to be by your side when the city is taken. I would not.be absent from that victory for an earl’s coronet.” ; _ “It would, indeed, -be a shame to miss suchatriumph., But go now, Sir Stephen, -and prepare for your adventures. At night-fall you shall leave the camp. I will gee that the men are ready to start. Fare- well, and may you be as successful in battle bd * prea” CHAPTER XVI. Res ON THE MARCH—SIR STEPHEN STORMS THE _ SHEIK’S STRONGHOLD—ALICE’S RASH aft _ENDEAVOUR—TO THE RESCUE —SIR _ BIDULPH OVERTHROWN—CAPIURE OF oY THE CASTLE—ZAYDA. FPHAT night Sir Stephen Sternhold com- 4 menced his first sole command, The ’ Pears mrs than carried out his promise. _ Not only had he selected a company of old _ and well-tried knights to accompany our hero, but had chosen a body of archers, _ every one of whom was remarkable for the _ perfection of his archery, and these, at Sir ? mi , * on * SD Cee En ee ea « r . - a , : a - : % rg J . ' ON THE MARCH. ._== * “wa tk . wo ¢ - OTe i a -_o _ . ei ‘ = 4 : ~~ x “Me -~. Me . at = eh ’ » > * 7 a ‘ir ea Pr Stephen Sternhold’s request, had been a the command of Will o’ the ow. . Boldly the little band marched along, making but few halts, and these of the shortest duration. ) Each man was anxious to behold the - Saracen stronghold in the mountains and eager for the combat, for not only had their indignation been raised by hearing that Sir Bidulph de Boischene and his recreant followers had turned Moslems, but also the wily Giaffa—who, of course, ac- companied the expedition—had filled the men’s minds with wonder at the vastness of the murdered sheik’s riches, and set them mad with the idea of the greatness of the pillage which they already looked upon as their own. It was early one fine morning that Sir Stephen and his brave little band arrived in sight of the castle, which flashed back the rays of the sun from its gilded crescent and spearhead adornments to the Oriental cupola. The men were about to shout, but Sir Stephen at once checked them. _ “Not a sound—not a sound,” he cried. “We must advance as near as we can to the castle unobserved. Stand forth Giafta.” “J am here, my lord,’ replied Giafta stepping forward and saluting our hero. _ “You know the mountain well? Is there not some pass by which we can approach nearer to the castle without being erceived; or, at least, gain some shelter om the enemies’ darts.” “ There 1s, my lord, a way down yonder : but we shall not be long before we are discovered, Scouts are always sent about these passes, and 1 have greatly wondered that we have not been discovered already.” “Gentlemen, keep your lances ready,” said Sir Stephen. “ Archers, march with arrows fitted to your bows. In these mountainous defiles we may be surprised at any moment in spite of all caution. Now, Giaffa, lead on.”’ Down the pass rode the knights, followed by the archers. It was a narrow, gloomy place, opening out now and then into a kind of table land on which grew magnificent cedars. They had just entered one of these plateaus when a wild cry arose, followed by a flight of urrows, and the next moment a nuomber of Saracen horsemen dashed from behind some trees which had hidden them, and galloped at a furious pace down the pass. ‘‘ Archers to the front! Now, boys, show these fellows how the merry men of Eng- land shoot,” Gomicbooks , - (E(@)