The Armourer's Apprentice — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

; ? ial ’ A S ~ Ls - Pa . i. wa Cae ie, : ix 2 im 4, re y a ; a we” i : . ; * ve * les in the midst of the present strife of attle. Blood flowed in streams—yells and yaths filled the air. The crash of steel—the cries of the ‘wounded prevented the deadly foes from speaking to each other; but their flashing eyes, which glared upon each other, and their hot breath, which réached each other's cheeks, told how terrible was their hatred. _ Suddenly Sir Stephen bent a little back- wards. Witha yas ttiumph his adversary ‘pressed with alli his strength on the young knight, seek.ng to break his back. _ But it was only @ ruse on the part of our hero, who, slipping a little on one side, swung round so unexpectedly that he lifted Sir Bidulph off his feet. _ Acry of horror showed that the villain knew his fate. Higher and higher did Sir pephen lift his foe, until he had raised him over his head. Then he dashed him “with all bis might on to the parapet of the - One stfuggie, one upward throw of the Trands, a8 he grasped at the parapet, and then Sif Bidulph rolled over and fell crash- _ *Vittory—victory!” shouted the Eng- lish, Whilst the Saracens, daunted by their Teac ér's overthrow, fled to the inner walls and citade]. _ A wild shriek—the hysterical cry of a woman, and a beautiful creature, decked “if all the rich apparel and gems of Oriental “Magnificence, sprang from an embrasure in ‘the wall, where she had been concealed, arms about his neck. “Oh! save me, save me! Thank Heaven ‘you have come!” * Alice,” cried Sir tire in amazement, “how came you here? But this ino time for questions. Keep close to me, dearest. Stay; I will tear down this Saracen stan- dard, Perchance when the infidels see it trailed in the dust they will surrender.” _ He seized the standard, but scarcely had he done so when an arrow from the walls pierced Alice’s shoulder, and she fell faint- ing in his arms, | lice, my own sweet, Alice, look up! By heavens! she is dead. What shall I do? I must not leave the fight.” “No, Sir Stephen; that would never do,” of = d a rough but kindly voice close by . “Let me have the pretty creature. have nursed her when she was a babe. I ess all her troubles, but they will soon e all over now, and the dark days be dis- ‘pelled by the bright and happy sun.” _It was ol Will 0’ the Bow who held out , arms to take the maiden, ss CAPTURE OF THE CASTLE. Gnd running up to our hero, threw her | vas tephen—Stephen !” she exclaimed. | 5] “Take her, my gocd friend,” said Sir Sie Se “ani protect her with your Ge “Doubt me not, Sir Stephen. I would perish sooner than she should receive hurt. This wound is nothing; I will soon see to that. Forward, Sir Stephen! I will take charge of Alice.” Sir Stephen at once tore down the ban- ner, and snatching up asword from the grasp of a dead knight once more joined in the combat. The walls were now in the possession of the English, and the gates were thrown open, and in rushed all the archers. And now the scene that followed bafiles ali description, for we must confess that the knights of these days, courteous as they were in the tournament and at court, on the fleld of battle showed little or no mercy to their yanquished foes after a battle, especially if their foes were un- believers. rs Vainly did our hero try to stem the. stream of hatred mingled with bigotry. Saracens were dragged out from holes and corners and massacred. At last Stephen, arming himself with a battle axe, and followed by his most faith- fo'!lowers, rushed from ruom to room of the castle, declaring that he would cut down anyone who attempted any fur- ther slaughter of unarmed men and those who pleaded for mercy, and thus after much trouble the men were calmed down, and the prisoners shut upin a strong room properly guarded, Then Sir Stephen, with some knights, went the round of the castle, and saw sentinels placed at proper posts, the de- fences well looked to, and this done he was at liberty to ask for Alice. “She is weli and in the ladies’ apart- ments,” said Old Herbert de Berg. “I thought it wiser to get all the women shut up where they could not be touched. Never fear, Sir Stephen; they are saie enough. Old Willo’ the Bow, with a score of his most trusted men, are on guard at the door, and I warrant me neither knight or squire will pass him.” “You have done well, Sir Hubert,” said Sir Stephen, as he grasped the old man’s hand. “Wor my parti think that women are always in the way 1n a castle,” growled the old soldier. “It is far better that they should be in large towns, There, if they get up to mischief, if matters little; but in a castle— Humph! I cannot trust them.” Without paying. any heed to these com- plimentary remarks to the ladies, Sir Stephen hurried off to see Alice. Gomichoo (E(@)