Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

Under the Fleur-de-Lis emerged from Gilbert’s chatter had marched. into Italy with King Charles, meaning to grow rich by a war of plunder. When they found that the king was engaged on a military display they withdrew from the army and made a private war on the travelers of Lombardy. And thus they throve in safety. While the French king was parading his arms all down Italy the Italian cities dared not squander men to go fighting a band of soldiers of fortune. If the king got into trouble and had to retreat, Sir Gilbert and Sir Philibert were so near the mountains that they could be off to France with his vanguard. ) “It is a neat thing, lad, it is a neat thing,” Gilbert clapped Silvain on the shoulder. “Do you want your share? Why, we have done well, but the doubt we should do better with a knight like Silvain in our company. ‘There are pretty ventures, you rogue. And booty enough for three. I do not grudge you, not I.” “Sir, I ride on,” Silvain said. Philibert laughed— ‘That is his life! He rides on.” _ “Not to-night, lad,” said Gilbert, and poured more wine for him and struck up another song. They sat late and again and again Gilbert plied him with offers to join them. It be- came clear to Silvain that there was some reason why he should not be allowed to go away. He yawned and asked leave to sleep. Gilbert took a man and a lantern and led him among the ruins to a tower which was still sound. ‘We lie here and there in this old place,” he explained, as they climbed the stair, “but this is good quarters, lad.” He held up the lantern in a room which had much furniture. “This was a pretty lady’s bower,” he chuckled. ‘Dream of her, Silvain.” He set down the lantern and went off singing a ribald song as Thibaut came with their gear. “There is good wine in this place, lord,” Messire Thibaut grinned and yawned and stretched himself out on the floor. ‘“‘God make me as full tomorrow. Amen.” But Silvain put down the lantern on the table so that no light showed and went to the window. He saw a man take post at the door of the tower on guard. 123 Then he turned and said, “Do not sleep, brother,”’ and Thibaut groaned. Silvain watched that man on guard till he had his measure and then lay down on the floor by Thibaut and with his lips at Thibaut’s ear, “Is there a watch on the horses?” he whispered. ‘‘One man watches the horse lines.” Silvain went back to the window and listened till all was quiet. Then he stole down the stair. The sentry was lounging in the doorway. He heard something, turned and heard nothing—for Silvain stood still, hidden in the curve of the stairway—and turned again to lounge. A fist in an iron gauntlet grasped his mouth and a dagger hilt struck his temple. He was stunned and senseless without a sound. Silvain carried him up and tied him in a bundle of bedclothes. : They took their gear and made for the horse lines. As soon as they saw through the darkness dark shapes in rank Messire Thibaut dropped down flat with the turf and crept on. Silvain stopped and found a stone and threw it. One of the horses plunged and kicked. The sentry ran to quiet it. While he was busy Thibaut came near and rising suddenly behind him brought him to the ground with a cloak over his head. Silvain ran in, and the man was tied up in the heelropes with a peg to biteon. And they saddled and made off. “Pity me,” Thibaut groaned. ‘What is all this, lord?” “‘Gilbert did not tell me, brother,” Silvain laughed. “But I think that he will.” With the stars for a guide they made their way back to the road, and there Thibaut slept and Silvain watched till dawn. As soon as he had light enough to see far he took Thibaut and the horses and hid them in a fold of the hills and himself chose a place on the high ground whence he could watch the way to the castle. and Philibert came with all their company and came in haste. ‘“‘All these for me, friend?” Silvain said. “You do me too much honour.”’ Philibert went on and reconnoitered while the rest halted. Then they moved forward slowly. The mass of them went into hiding in the broken ground by the road. Men on foot scattered on either side of it and lay down. Two or three horsemen HE HAD not long to wait. Gilbert Comicbool A) © =