Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 April 1911 — The Knight of the Silver Stat [ARTICLE]

The Knight of the Silver Stat

A I&OEMimC® Draseenl&nd

By PERCY BREBNER

CHAPTER IV. y COULD get nothing out of [•g|J J O’Ryan until he had done full KgxSi justice to the food and wine. cS£=U “This is much better than sudden death,” he said, setting down his empty flagon with an intense sigh of satisfaction. “Tell me who I am supposed to be.” “A saint.” “I don’t feel like one.” “You play that part to perfection.” “I feel more like a considerable sized liar.” “It was the only way out of it. Half measures were no good. How we’re going to act up to promise I don’t know. You may possibly get the princess to the capital, but how you’re going to find a treasure which doesn’t exist beats me.” “I told them to be patient,” I said. “You did. but I don’t think patience is of much use to them.” “Count Vasca didn’t believe a word I said.” ’ “No. Still, he is not too well loved. The priests hate him because he does not love the priests, and many of the knights hate him because they believe the princess thinks too much of him.” “Loves him, do you mean?” “Yes. He is a kinsman of hers and wishes to marry her. Most of the knights swallowed your story, and the princess”— “What of her?”

“Well, she may believe it or she may not, but she’s a woman and you’re a big, good looking man. If the priests say you are the knight expected I don’t think she’ll raise any objection.” “Let me know just where I am, O’Ryan,” I said after a pause. “What tale did you tell of me?” “I began telling the truth, and when I saw how interested they were 1 varnished it a little. The legend about the treasure says that a great knight shall come to Drussenland and find it. The priests' questions first put it into my head. Your appearance had already impressed the soldiers, so I just cut in and swore that yon were the knight everybody was expecting. It was a pretty bold move, seeing I had not talked it over with you. but it was a good one—witness our being here.” “If the people believe this legend so implicitly, how was it you were treasure hunting when I first came upon you?” “Easily explained,” said O’Ryan. “The king in Yadasara is not much under priestly influence. He likes having his own way, and, although he firmly believes that the treasure exists, bethinks he can find it without any supernatural aid, and if it does exist I dare say he is quite right.” “Probably.” “Besides, he is surrounded by a good many nineteenth century adventurers, who care about as much for religion as a cow does for roast partridge. To put it shortly, the superstitious part of the people are mostly here with the princess.” "But what is the religion of Drussenland?’ “I'm not much at religion myself. Verrail,” he said. “They are not heathens in this country, but everything has a symbol. You have seen how the mountain Khrym stands like a sentinel over the land. It is the most prominent feature, and when thinking of the author of his being and ruler of his destiny every true Drussenlander thinks of Khrym; therefore Khrym has come to mean God, and, although they do not worship the mountain, they believe that the appearance of the mountain reflects the pleasure or displeasure of the Almighty.” “Do all the people believe this symbolical jumble?’ /: , ■ ■ '•■': < “I think so—that is, all who are for the princess. I don’t suppose the priests believe all they teach, but it suits them to keep up the superstition, and, this war has become a kind of religious ohe.”

“Have they no priests in Yadasara?” I asked. • “Plenty, and, very wisely for themselves, they teach what pleases the king. That kind of thing, too. has been done in the old country.” “So I am the expected knight sent from Khrym.” “You told them so.” “How the deceit is to be kept up I don’t know.** “First of all, lock up that consc: ance of yours for a bit and play the game to the end.” "There seems nothing else to be lone." “Do you know what my name is supposed to be?’ “I think you are nameless at present. It is of little consequence. If necessary I’d just be too great a personage altogether to have a name and let them dub you what they will. Then, Sir Knight, whatever your name is, I am your humble squire.” The next morning was clear and sunny. Our quarters overlooked a large square, which appeared to be the center of the town, and, although it was early when I awoke, the business of the day was commenced. O’Ryan was still sleeping, and I did not wake

him. Men and women were hurrying to and fro across the square, some staying to gossip for a few moments with their neighbors, talking eagerly, and I could not help thinking that their conversation was of me. Looking across the town, I‘ could see a large portion of the camp, where ail was movement aijd bustle, armor and arms glistening in the sun, and the dull rumble of many voices ascended to my ears. Beyond the camp, across the spur of the lower hills, I could see the summit of Khrym standing out white against the blue sky. The sound of trumpets broke my reverie. Into the square marched a troop of warriors with lances sloped and with rhythmical tread, and in the midst of them, attended by a dozen knights, was Princess Daria. She rode as a man. clothed in a light coat of mail, a low steel helmet upon her head, from underneath which strayed a lock or two of her hair. Her limbs were cased in steel, and her horse was in armor. No wonder her soldiers worshiped her! “A brave show. Sir Knight.” I had not heard O’Ryan stirring, and he startled me.

“A warlike young woman,” he went on. “That cavalcade going along Whitehall would make London think a little. Very warlike, but still a woman. Don’t forget that.” “Am I likely to forget it?” “Caught alread’-. eh? Well, the women in this country take a lot of beating. I’m wondering how my wife in the capital yonder is getting on. If I ever get back I expect I’ll have to do some more hacking for her. When I don’t turn up she’ll say. ‘Poor Dennis, he’s dead,’ and then”— “Well?” I said as he paused. “Then she’ll marry some one else.” “Are there no widows, then? “A few old ones. The young are philosophical. Mike may be a better man than Pat, but Pat living is worth any number of dead Mikes.” “Cheer up, O’Ryan,” I said. “You must win her back if necessary.” The center of the square was kept clear, and here about noon three sets of double stakes were fixed firmly in the ground. Presently a single trumpet sounded, and as its last note echoed among the hills a great shout burst into the air. a shout that woke, the hills to voice again. A silence followed, and I could hear faintly a slow, mournful, although not unmusical, chant coming from some part of the building below us.

“Some religious ceremony,” I said. O’Ryan nodded. There was the clatter of horses’ hoofs, and a troop of knights, headed by Count Vasca, appeared. I looked among them to find the princess, but she was not there. There was a savage satisfaction in the count’s face as he glanced up at our windows. We both drew back. “That man will be our greatest enemy,” said O’Ryan. “Better that he should not see us watching.” “His looks augur us no good,” I answered. “It may be that the priests have decided against me.” “No. There is no audience until after sunset. You heard the command yesterday.” “The count may know beforehand.” “I don’t think the old priests would make a confidant of him. In their enmity lies our safety.” The doings in the square prevented me from asking further questions. A company of soldiers marched out from the building below us, having in their midst three men, naked almost, with their arms bound tightly behind them. They were followed by priests walking two and two. Each prisoner was bound between two stakes, his arms and legs outstretched. Before each man stood a soldier, a drawn sword in his hand, and behind stood the priests. The silence was intense; I could hear my own heart beat.

“Three prisoners! Your followers’” I whispered. Suddenly I remembered the words of the priest that tomorrow Khrym should be appeased. This Was what he meant. Great heavens, it was too horrible! -I opened my mouth to speak, and O’Ryan’s heavy hand was on my arm. A flourish of trumpets rang out; three swords like lightning strokes flashed in the sunlight; three bodies quivered for a moment and then hung motionless upon the stakes. .<■ My blood was boiling. Such cold blooded murder was appalling, sickening. and I longed for freedom to dash into the midst of those fiends and avenge the victims. O’Ryan did not gjve me time to be angry. “You’ll know that I was right when you’re able to think quietly.” he said. “You must forget that you have lived in the nineteenth century. After all. it was a quick death, merciful to many deaths I have heard of.”

“Is there no way out of this infernal country.” I said—“now. before it is too late?’ < “Steadily, Sir Knight. Yonder in Yadasara are your enemies. You’ll find even worse blackguards there.” “I dare swear that -Count Vasca reveled in this murderous exhibition.*’ T said after a pause. “Very likely.” “And the princess?’ I said questioningly,_ “She must rule according to her people’s Jaw,” said O’Ryan. “She must have known of it,” I went on, speaking rather to myself than to my companion. “Such a thing could not be possible without her knowing it What deviltry can lie at the heart of a beautiful woman!” “Aye, from Adam’s time even until now,” said O’Ryan. (To be continued.)