Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

Under the Fleur-de-Lis peaks and climbed for a high pass which the road forsook to find an easier way by a long circuit. When he saw below him again after many a mile the gray band of the road on a black shoulder of mountain he halted and listened and after a little heard the beat of: hoofs. He had come in front of them, but they had good galloping ground before them and he a steep hill side. He struck down on a long slant. They heard him, saw him—no help for that—and though they could not know who he was drove their horses on. But Silvain had chosen his line well, the slope fell easier, he came at the last in a sudden burst of speed and crashed into the second man shoulder to crupper and rode him down. The other was well away while Silvain’s horse staggered from the shock. The man on the ground roared: “Help cousin, help. Stand by me. I am a dead man else. Turn, man, death and the ——, he is but one.” So Gilbert, spitting and swearing and struggling to get free from his fallen horse. Philibert halted and looked back and turned and rode at Silvain, bending low in the saddle, a little man hidden behind his horse’s neck holding his sword like a lance. So he rushed on, but Silvain going easily leaned out of the saddle as he came and his sword sliding along Philibert’s sword held it off and went into Philibert’s neck be- tween helmet and breastplate and pierced him through and through and thrust him from his horse. Down he fell while his horse rushed on and Silvain swung round upon Gilbert. But Gilbert shrank from him crying: “T yield myself. Have mercy. I ama knight and will pay a knight’s ransom. Have mercy.”’ “T am Silvain de St. Lo. Come, stand by my stirrup or I will cut you down.” “Silvain!”’ Gilbert cried. ‘‘Why do you set upon us? this is wicked work. We ride out on the king’s service and you 9 “What service?”’ ‘Why, man, we were riding to find where these cursed Italians are marshaled.”’ Silvain laughed. ‘You will never find them, Gilbert.” “What do yousay? God’s death, you will not kill me now. I have yielded myself.” ‘Vou are my prisoner. I am sorry for it. Hod by my stirrup. March!” 133 “But Philibert! Do not leave him for the love of God.”’ “There is no help for Philibert. He chose death, Gilbert.” Gilbert groaned! “Good St. Martin, pray for him. I have brought him to his death.” He ran to the fallen man and: lifted his head and cried, “Brother, forgive me!” Silvain walking his horse up to them heard Philibert laugh faintly. “Tt is as it is,” Philibert gasped. “Go your way. I go mine. And the —— takes all.” “Silvain, of your grace,” Gilbert cried. “His breastplate bites into the wound. Help me with him.” Silvain swung down and raised the little man while Gilbert fumbled with his armor. ‘Name of God, he must not die in tor- ment,” Gilbert muttered. ‘So, so. Hold him a moment. So.” And then he dived past Silvain, throwing him down upon the dying man and vaulted on Silvain’s horse and dashed off into the night. Silvain started up and heard Philibert’s gasping laugh. ‘‘He is up and you are down,” Philibert croaked. ‘What have you won? Come lie with me. The —— takes all.” Silvain ran seeking the loose horses in the dark, found one at last and galloped after Gilbert. But Gilbert was far ahead and better mounted now and though Silvain rode hard when the dawn broke he was above the valley of the Parma and saw far below a single horseman coming to the Italian lines. es) the mountains to the Fornovo road. - He spurred the weary horse till it could do no more, then flung himself from the saddle and trudged on. The sun was high and the army had gone far on the way to Fornovo before he met the vanguard. Bayard’s men challenged him, then recognized him under his dust and let him pass. Bayard rode by without a word or a look. But in the rear of Bayard’s company was Thibaut leading the two spare horses. He gave forth a howl of greeting and Silvain flung himself on a horse and galloped on to seek the marshal. In the middle of the long column of march the Marshal d’Esquerdes was riding beside the king. Silvain made his salute SILVAIN turned and made across Comicbook C© 5}