Adventure Magazine Cover, August 18, 1921 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

20 “Didst thou know it was Odo who found his body?” the voice continued. Arlotta cried out. “Odo?” she gasped. he who——” “Speak on, wench, if thou wouldst live,” the voice said. It did not seem to threaten—rather to encourage, so soft it was. She spoke then fully and fluently, with “It was he—it was sobs that broke in now and then. He did not check her story. “Odo loves me,” she began. ‘He came often, always by night, when the Lady Margaret did not need me, being with Lord Geoffrey. Always he came when Geoffrey came, but an hour afterward. No one knew of his coming but me. “Last night—I met him in the field be- hind the tower. He grew impatient—never had he waited so long before—and asked me ‘over and over when Lord Geoffrey would ride back. Something in his voice made me suspicious and afraid. He snarled at me, ordered me to tell him. I sprang back, threatening to scream and rouse the guard. So Odo must coax me to watch for Lord Goeffrey. But I would not, unless he told me why. “He said Sir Richard was weary of Lord Geoffrey, that the lad was in his way. Sir Richard wanted him made harmless. Odo told me that he was to ride out just before Lord Geoffrey and give the signal. Men would be in hiding, would drag him from his horse and carry him to a cloister. He swore—Odo did—that no harm would befall the young man.” ‘And you betrayed the man your master sheltered under his roof?” “T—T love Odo,” the girl gasped. She was frightened worse than ever, but with a cold fear that would not let her escape from the dreadful voice. Gislac stirred in his chair. ‘Have this wench whipped,” he com- manded the man-at-arms, “and turn her “HE STILL holds out?” yi © ‘‘He sleeps, my father. His cheeks == are not so pale. The physician says there is hope. I can not let him die!” Gislac stroked his daughter’s hair. “You must rest, child; your own cheeks will be pale else. You must keep them bright for Geoffrey. To bed, now! You Adventure have not slept since—well, to bed! And send for Bermond.”’ When the officer came, he found Sir Giles deep in thought. He stood straight and silent till his master was ready to speak. ‘You are captain of the wall, Bermond, till Gerard’s thigh mends. Have up the great caldrons from the vaults, lay fires along the walls and store pitch and oil at every station. Have an eye to the armorer’s chests. See to it that all rents in the supplies of mail are mended and have the spear-points and sword-blades fresh ground.” “Tt shall be done, my lord.” ‘Send out Jean Lefort with a dozen men for fresh supplies. Have an inventory made of all the beasts, all the last year’s grain, the dried meat, the weapons on the estate; but have none brought into the castle till we get word that Monrepaire is ready to march. “The peasants must have use of their food, and we must have room, till the mo- ment comes to man the walls. Hold— order our tenants to appear at the castle for three hours each day, that they may know their stations and be trained for defense. “Bid Raimond take the Spanish barb— there is no faster horse in the stables, or in the shire, for that matter—and have him watch the highroad to London. “There will be fighting soon. The Rotten Reiver will say I slew Geoffrey. He does not know the boy still lives, nor do I wish him to know it. Forget that I have told you. He will scarce dare assault High Tower himself, though his riders are many and fierce. It will be more like him to lay complaint before the king. Stephen hates me already; this will give him an excuse to send an army against me.” ‘fAye, my lord.” Gislac smiled at the reply, more at the calm with which it was delivered. ‘““You would stand by me, Bermond, even against the king?” “We will all stand by you, my lord. Kings come and kings go, but there is only one de Gislac!”’ The knight sprang to his feet and clapped his man on the shoulder. “Well said! The Rotten Reiver plays with loaded dice, Bermond—loaded against Geoffrey, loaded against me. I play fair, but I play to win. The stakes are our lives. COMGHOO S (©