Argosy, Vol. 117, No. 3 — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

410 with head bent forward to avoid hitting — the low ceiling, grinning good-naturedly at the fire; the other Tringe, the crooked- backed man. Tringe’s keen eyes were in- tent with professional interest on Kinst’s metal and the manipulation of the furnace. “There,” sighed Kinst finally, “I can pour. This will make twenty more of the little torches—we’re spreading the light, eh, comrades?” “Ho-ho, spread the light, that’s it!” Shard approved boisterously, and his huge voice sent the cat snarling into the shadow. ““ Aye, spread the light. They’re tiny, but Folk can see by them.” “Yes, they’re going everywhere,” Tringe mused complacently. ‘“ Every cantonment must have received at least one by now. I tell you, the Folk are beginning to buzz!” ‘And presently they’ll begin to swarm— and to sting, too!”’ roared Shard. In his exuberance he cracked his head hard against the ceiling and interrupted himself to call a hearty curse upon the house of Kinst before he subsided, cross-legged, to the floor, looming monstrous in the glow. Kinst fluttered anxiously about his molds. The stench of hot metal and burning grease rose thick. Finally the gold-worker turned on them. . ‘At last, that’s done. Now, Tringe, let us see that blessed flag Mary has sent us. Anna, look well. Here’s your task!” “Yes, it’s made by Mary’s own hands,” Tringe boasted eagerly as he took a roll of silk from under his jacket. ‘“ Every stitch of it blessed by her love. Look!” All eyes turned on the fluttering silk he held high, releasing its folds until it was revealed, a brave banner. The field was half white, half blue, and thrusting across it diagonally was a hand that bore a flam- ing torch—this in red. “The banner that will lead us to free- dom!” cried Tringe, his voice shrill with pride and excitement. The others marvelled in silence. Finally Anna found her tongue. ‘‘ The pretty,” she murmured, “ the pretty!” Her fingers caressed the silk and raised it tenderly to her lips. The others said nothing glowed strangely. , but their eyes THE ARGOSY. “You can make others like it, you can?” Kinst spoke huskily. “Yes, yes—with the cloth given me. All you wish. Ah, dear gods, how happy I'll be at this task!” Even Anna’s plain face seemed to borrow a momentary beauty from something fine within her. “Hey, that’s so, how about the silks?” Shard exclaimed. ‘“Solf, the weaver is bringing them— stolen from Wolff’s own stores,” Tringe explained. ‘Yes, and Solf is here.”” The door had opened as Tringe spoke to admit the long- haired weaver who bore more rolls of silk. “ That’s a good job done,” the weaver sighed wearily. “A fine time we had get- ting them and a fine time I| had bringing them—but here we are.” His eyes turned to the flag Tringe held out so proudly. “Hey!” he exclaimed. “ Gay thing, that, very gay, comrades!” Solf inspected the flag critically. “TI could have done no better on my loom,” he pronounced. “Ho,” you hear him?” scoffed Shard roughly. ‘‘ You hear what he says? He could do no better himself—he admits it!” - ‘fT could do as well, I tell you, I could,” Solf snarled. ‘Oh, yes, oh, yes, make a flag as fine as our Mary can—ah—’’ “Come, come,” Kinst mollified them, “why dispute about that? It is a noble banner and blessed by the gracious lady who gives it. Why quarrel—ah, here’s still another come in. Hello, Gross, more shields to-night?” ‘“ Spear-heads and six swords,” answered Gross, the sooty-faced armorer. ‘“ The piles grow, eh, Kinst?” : The day comes soon enough,” Shard growled anxiously. ‘But the Folk will be ready!” Kinst who reassured them. they’re ripe for this—” “Yes, yes, they’ll fight,” Gross agreed. ‘““Give us men to lead them well and that banner there will float from Wolff’s Tower.” ‘““May. it be soon!” Tringe exclaimed fervently. “Soon!” all echoed. It was “T tell you (E(0) .OoOK (C@)