Adventure Magazine Cover, August 18, 1921 — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

46 The touch of Gislac’s exploring fingers startled the boy. “One of Richard’s men-at-arms,” he re- ported. “I had him by the throat before he could stir and got my dagger through his wind-pipe. God knows what the zood prior will say to that in the morning.” They slept well in the warm night air and woke to the flutter and cheep of birds before sunrise. For an hour or more they lay luxuriously among the rushes, sniffing the fine, fresh air of morning. Then Gislac rose. “I must bury that skulking dog I slew last night,” he announced and crept off through the reeds. When he returned, he wore an air of complacency. “Not so bad for an old man,” he smiled. “It was your uncle’s chief hangman and bully, Big Blaise.” Geoffrey’s face saddened. “He was always good to me,” he said. “You are the first then. Never a woman was safe from him nor a child that got in his way. Many a priest’s toes has he singed. My peasants lay the Merton burning at his door.”’ “Merton Abbey?” “That—my uncle’s deed The words came slowly, as if horror held them fast. About the third hour after sunrise they were roused by the crackling of the rushes. The sound, close at hand, had come as if from nowhere. “Tt will be one of the monks from the passage,” Sir Giles hazarded. It was. The Cistercian brought food and a small jug of wine. For four days they lived thus among the reeds, drinking of the river, fed by the kindly monks. Each morning and night they were visited. Always they were told that the Reiver’s horsemen still hung about theneighborhood. On the fifth day the prior came, and his bearing told them his news. “They have gone back,” he said. “You may return to the priory.” Gislac glanced at Geoffrey, who shook his head. It was as if the boy asserted his leadership, for Gislac was quite ready to stay on for a time. “We must go,” Geoffrey said. to Peterborough.” A pang of pain stopped Gislac’s heart for a moment. . Geoffrey gasped. {?? “It is far Adventure “Nay, lad,” he said. “If a father can curb his impatience, can not a lover? We must first make our way south or east to some Channel port. Being men, we have work to do. We must to France, find Henry of Anjou and lend him our poor aid to make him King of England!” The prior raised his hand in blessing. “God speed you,” he prayed, “both in your own and in your country’s cause. Christ will fight for King Henry. Young man, you are weaponless. Would I had a sword to give you!” “TI have seen to that,’”’ quoth Gislac. He moved toward the river and came back bearing a sheathed sword. “The sword of Big Blaise will henceforth fight on the side of honor,”’ he said. Brother Matthew looked a grave ques- tion, and Sir Giles forthwith told him of the coming and death of Blaise. The prior looked anxious. “There has been no inquiry after him?” Gislac asked. “Not yet. had gone. on some news of you. not happened.” “T have buried him deep and covered the grave well. They will find no trace of him to bother you with,” Gislac assured the priest. “‘Now, good father, receive the thanks of hard-pressed men for the gift of life and Christian kindness. If Gislac ever comes to prosperity again, he will not for- get the favor given to Gislac in wretched- ness.” Geoffrey said nothing, but stooping, kissed the prior’s robe. Brother Matthew laid his hand caressingly on the boy’s head. “T think,” he said, ‘‘that God loves such as you, my son!” He lingered after his fellows It will be thought he rode off But I would this had CHAPTER XI SWORDS OF THE NIGHT 5) pee night’s supper done and a small supply of bread and meat laid by in a leathern pouch, the two exiles left Fulham Priory behind them at the first fall of dusk. They took the road that ran southward and westward toward the meeting of the Sollett and the Flamwell at Merton. That way led to London, to the sea, whence one might sail to France. It was no road for the two to travel in open day. COmiclboook CO