Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 154: what you’re looking at

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

142 gloom and the clatter of his voice died slowly away. “He has a will as loud as he is,”’ Silvain reflected. “He has won. But he hadto fight for it. He is hot yet.” He sighed. “Alas, poor king! You have knaves to your friends. Alas, poor France! Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child.” Other men came out from the tent, not so noisy as the marshal, debating whether he was right or wrong and Silvain heard a voice that he knew. ‘he is a Marshal of France,’’said Gilbert du Marais. ‘Let him lead, the king has said it and so say I.” ‘The short way home is the way for me,’ said Philibert. Then Etienne de Vesc spoke softly, some- thing that made men laugh. But Gilbert cried out: “You are wise, my lord, doubt you, you are wise. You may be right for what I know and the marshal has listened to rogues. But this is sure. The marshal is to lead and we must follow. Heart of God. I ride with him though we ride to the as “Well said, cousin,” Philibert chuckled and there was a murmur of approval. ‘The blind lead the blind.” Etienne said softly. “Beware of the ditch, my lords.” They went their several ways and Etienne went with Gilbert and Philibert. “What now?” Silvain said to himself. “Gilbert and Philibert stand out loyal to the marshal—that is strange—and_ their patron prophesies ruin and yet cherishes them kindly, that is most strange. What comes of it?” ca STEALTHILY, avoiding the rings Se of fire light, he followed them. They a! stood together awhile in the dark- ness. Then Etienne turned and came back to the king’s tent alone. Gilbert and Philibert strode on to the horse lines and Silvain heard the creak of saddle leather. It was enough for him. He made haste through the sleeping camp. His own horses were far away by Bayard’s out- posts. Before he was mounted Gilbert and Philibert had a long start. He was checked by Bayard’s wary sentries and lost more time before he could get leave to pass, by a pretence that the marshal sent him. There was no hope in rousing Bayard. Adventure Bayard would never help him again. No use to give the alarm and shout that two knights had fled to join the enemy. None but the marshal himself would dare act against the friends of Etienne de Vesc. To find him, to persuade him, while Etienne was giving a dozen good reasons why they were gone would waste the night. And they would be safe away and nothing proved or sure. “OQ Bayard, my brother, here is another lonely venture,” he laughed sadly as he rode on into the dark. For he had never a doubt what he must do. Gilbert and Philibert had declared them- selves on the marshal’s side against Etienne in order that no one should suspect them of deserting to betray the marshal. So Etienne could scoff at the marshal’s plan and when he was betrayed and the army: was led to disaster, no man could blame him or his. A clever fellow, Master Etienne. In the hour when it seemed that the French had found a way to safety and left him no more chance of selling them, he devised a plan for their ruin which would enrich him and free him from all suspicion. The marshal ordered the march by For- novo. Etienne who had kept the king loitering while the Italians gathered against him would have had the army go into the Parma valley where the Italians waited for it. The marshal prevailed, so Etienne was sending on the news that the Italians might move round to Fornovo betimes. Thereafter with his pockets full of Italian gold Etienne would boast that he had always been for the Parma road and that if the king had listened he would have brought them safe off. Thus Silvain read the maneuvers of the night. It was certain in his mind that Gilbert and Philibert were riding straight for the Parma valley. He had to gain upon them half an hour’s ride, he had to find them in the dark, he had to stop them be- fore they reached the Italian outposts. One advantage only he had, that his days of riding to and fro had given him good knowledge of the mountains. That Gilbert and Philibert would go by the road, he had no doubt. No other way was easy or safe. But if he followed by the road he would wear his horse out before he caught them. - He turned away on a rough track steering by the stars and the loom of the mountain CoOMmichook A) © =