Argosy, Vol. 119, No. 2 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

THE GREAT why? word for him? Was she angry? No, he knew this could not be true. She loved him. She had been so comida. so frail and help- less the night of the storm. That was the last time he had seen her. Was all well with her now? Where had they taken her? He must find her! But first, he must go where the court was; Seseca—and from him he would learn all that now was so mysterious. When they arrived in the blue bay of Cadiz, Arthur escaped from the ship, the first night, by slipping quietly down the boat’s side and swimming ashore. His preparations had consisted of penning a scrawl to Will telling that he had gone to find her. He landed, econ in the little low- lying, white-housed town, where he got food, and dried out before the stingy fire in a cheap posada. Here he made inquiries about the location of the court, and learned that it was now at Granada, a city some distance inland and to the northeast. Arthur Lake slept that night at this same inn where he had eaten and, the next morn- ing, beneath a brilliant blue sky, departed on foot. Soon he had left the little town, with its whitewashed houses streaked with vermillion, glistening and gleaming beside the sunlit sea, and entered upon the flat, sandy, shadowless country of arid dunes, flies, and mosquitoes, and pitiless sun. He spent eight days on his way, unex- citing, but happy days, often traversing a hilly, dusty country where he frequently had to ask his way, but where the. customs seemed strangely familiar and satisfying. Sometimes he had company, but more often he went forward alone. His evident prowess protected him from much, his shabby clothes from more; and his beauty and charmingly simple friendliness brought to him still more that was very delightful. The land abounded in surprising con- trasts. Hours of heat and dust and bar- renness would be succeeded by vineyards and grain-fields—now nearing harvest in this tropic clime. Or silvery-green olive- orchards and orange-groves, where the yel- Had Judith willingly left with no — for ese would be the secretary— | DISCOVERY, | 213 low balls were still green and the glossy, aromatic foliage sent up a sweet smell in the golden air, would be followed by rocky, sunburnt plains and. desolate, dry rivers. As he proceeded the ground became more and more rolling, and the snowy peaks of the Sierra Nevada came into view. On the eighth day, his eyes were glad- dened by the sight of Granada, backed by the snow-capped mountains, resplendent. upon its hills; while above, among the dark cypresses, towered the beautiful, ruddy fortress of the Alhambra. At noon he arrived within this old city of the Moors, which they had but recently surrendered. And with little difficulty he learned the whereabouts of the dwelling- place of the king’s secretary. For -the Count of Sansito had a palace of his own! Arthur went to it, but, after making cer- ‘tain that it was the right place, he dared = not knock and demand entrance. Instead he walked around it several times and then went to a posada, where he bathed, put on fresh linen which he had bought in the town with part of the Jast but four of his gold pieces, and, as a final touch of elegance, placed the magnificent, jeweled ring on his forefinger! And how it glit- tered! Strangely at odds with the strong, well-worn hands of the usual sailor-boy. Thus arrayed, he wended his way to the prisonlike palace of the king’s secretary. He marched up to the door and bravely grasped the magnificent, wrought-iron knocker. He raised it and let it fall with a_ loud thud. : He waited in sore anxiety. What was he about to discover? Or was he about to discover anything? He might be turned away! No matter—he would come again, again and again, until he learned the secret. Then, to find Judith, and then— The door opened! A marvelously liv- eried servant looked insolently at the big fair-haired sailor. ‘The Count de Sansito?”’ his deep voice to interrogate. The servant did not budge from where he blocked the entrance. 7 “I would see Don Juan de Seseca,” Arthur cried imperiously, fer all that he felt most insecure. Arthur raised Ebooks. com ¢om