The Argosy, April 1912 — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

WITH SWORD AND STRATEGY. caught my eye. This sudden flash in the air caused me to stop. Had it come from the ground there would have been nothing unusual about it, but this was different. I retraced my steps and again caught the sparkle. This time I located it-in a tree and climbed up to the point where the trunk separated. “There, in a hollow that had evidently been burned out, was stored a great quan- tity of what seemed at first to be plunder. But listen, my lord, here is the strangest part of my tale. When I looked at it but a few moments I recognized it as part of the tribute that had been stolen from you under the mask of an attack by the Huns while you were returning from your em- bassy. Descriptions that I had heard made me certain. More of the plunder was stored in other trees.” “Johann!” cried Philip, elated. what did you do with it?” “T left it there and started forth again in my frantic search to find you. Who put it there, and why, is a mystery, but that it is there at your disposal is the fact, and I hope you will take advantage of it.” Suddenly, like a bolt out of the black, a thought occurred to Philip. He remem- bered the words of Pepin’s parchment— “the money is secured”—and, in a few swift questions, had identified Johann’s clearing with that one in which they had found the misshapen prince asleep. Philip thought a moment, then he turned to Johann. “Here is the most important commission that you will ever have to execute, he said in a low tone. “ Quite by accident you have happened upon a fact that is of inestimable value to me, and, if properly used, will do a great deal toward restoring me to the king’s favor. What I want you to do is this: Return to the treasure and bring the most valuable parts of it to Regensburg, to a place that Farduff will tell you of. After that, my good friend, you shall be my com- panion wherever I go and whatever I do.” “The treasure shall be taken, my lord,” answered Johann, and turned to Fardutt to learn from him of a rendezvous in Regensburg. Shortly afterward, all the details being arranged, the two men in priestly garb bade farewell to the faithful Breton, and all three departed on hazardous enterprises, the outcome of which would be either death or glory. 8 A “ And 113 This time Philip put on again the hood that Fardulf had provided, and made shift to become proficient in the other details of his disguise, so that by the time they had neared the city, the one-time hermit ex- pressed himself as satisfied with his bent and limping companion. Now as they came out into the open road that led to the gates, they fell in with a large company of ecclesiastics. In the midst rode a stout man with a long gray beard, whom Fardulf declared to be the abbot, and all about him the lesser brethren padded along through the dust of the road. The two newcomers were made welcome by the men of this company, who com- plained that Charlemagne had ordered them up out of their comfortable lands and houses, and that they were only. looking forward to the time of their return. Thence the remainder of the journey was made among monkish comrades. Philip here had his first opportunity to test his disguise, and told his story of penance and injury many times, so that he actually began to be- lieve it himself, and became expert and glib in enlarging and embellishing the same. The ruse evolved by Fardulf was thus proved entirely successful, for in that day vows and penances were so common as to excite little curiosity save in regard to the details of the offense committed, and the punishment therefor. When they arrived at the gates darkness ahad already fallen, and the body of clergy were barely within before the portals were closed and barred for the night. The guards, tired with their long day’s vigil, did not examine too closely the thirty or forty men, and, after a cursory inquiry of the abbot, allowed them to enter. Once inside, Philip and Fardulf sepa- rated themselves courteously from their companions and disappeared down a nar- row and twisting side street, the hermit in the lead. Near by, across the square, Philip could just discern the outlines of the cathedral and its neighboring palace. The sight of the latter recalled to him the things that had. once been his, but were now no more. There was the woman he loved—for he knew Hildegarde must have returned with Charlemagne —and_ there were the nobles that had once been his com- rades in arms. There, also, was Pepin, the canker-worm of the realm, eating his crooked way into the very core of the emperor’s affairs. It CONMUC NOOLK CO