Adventure Magazine Cover — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

The Grand Cham 4 evidence of his eyes that the emperor and 9 Aina Nas ce Aes il @ — French could have pursued their foe so ar. “What ship is that?” cried a high voice, and the splash of hoofs sounded in the rushes as a man rode out toward the galleass. “Venetian,” answered Michael promptly. “Ts the battle won?” The men on the vessel held their breath as the rider, before answering, swam his horse out to them and, grasping at ropes lowered over the stern where the oar-banks permitted him to gain the side of the galleass, climbed heavily upon the deck. “Tf you are a Venetian—fly!” he cried, staggering against Michael. “Never have the eyes of God seen such a defeat. Baye- zid has sworn he will stable his horse in Saint Peter’s. I am alone, of a company of knights © who followed the Constable of France.’ Michael Bearn gripped the knight by the shoulder fiercely. “The Constable of feated: Sola.” © The wounded man was too weary to be surprized at the fire in the eyes that burned into his. Michael drew a long breath. He was too late. And his countrymen had fallen before Bayezid. The knight was removing his mail hood with shaking hands. “We thought the Saracen was shattered,” he said hopelessly. “Our camp was sur- prized, yet the French mounted and rode to the attack, through the skirmishers and the cavalry with white woolen hats——’” “The Janisseries,” nodded Michael. “and past them, into the ranks of the horse-guards that are called Sipahis, of Bayezid. Our lances, forsooth, had broken them asunder. We had lost many and our ranks were ill-formed when we gained the summit of the hill where we found not a rabble of defeated soldiery, but a forest of forty thousand lances. Ah, Saint Denis!” “Bayezid ever keeps his best troops till the last.” “He has ordered slain ten thousand Christian captives, sparing only the Count France — de- of Nevers and twenty knights. I escaped.” “And the emperor——?”’ “Floats down the river in a boat. He made a brave stand, ’tis said, until the Serbs joined the Moslems and struck his flank——” | I2I “°Tis done. Rest you and sleep.” Michael spoke curtly, what with the hurt of the news. ‘There are wounded to be brought off from shore.” AA URGING his vessel almost upon the shore, he formed his men-at-arms into lines to pass out what of the injured they could find, while he made his way inland to turn aside the fugitives he met into the galleass. He saw only haggard and dusty men, weaponless and exhausted. On mules and purloined horses camp-followers dashed past along the highway, striking aside those who got in their path. Semblance of order or discipline there was none. Wounded foot-soldiers who had cast aside their heavier armor limped into the light of the burning houses near by, silent and grim-lipped. Michael was mustering a group of these at the water’s edge when a mailed horseman spurred up and grasped at his shoulder. “For the love of ——! ship at hand?” Michael looked up under drawn brows and saw a handsome Italian cavalier, his Is’t true there is a velvet finery besmirched and his jeweled. cap awry. “‘A hundred ducats, sailor, if you will take me on your ship at once,” the horseman cried, fingering at a heavy purse with a quivering hand. “Spare your purse-strings and wait your turn,” responded Michael shortly. But the cavalier, befuddled by fear, was pushing aside the watchful foot-soldiers, to leap at the ‘ropes that had been lowered - from the vessel, when Michael’s left arm, thrust across his chest, stayed him. “You are a captain, signor,” he observed quietly. “Help me to get these wounded to safety.” The Italian glanced back and saw thata fresh route of fugitives had come into the light at the shore. A tall bazaar trader with his servants was striking down those who sought to climb into a muddy cart drawn by nearly exhausted horses. Michael could read the fear in the red-bearded face of the trader. A woman, her skirt dragging about her knees, ran screaming into the path of the cart, holding out imploring arms. The servants, under the oaths of their bearded master, lashed the horses on and CSI EOmiGcbdoo (S@)