Adventure Magazine, April 10, 1924 — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

62 “But there is no fighting now.” Will scratched his head and looked up at the sky dubiously. “Fighting? Nay, I think so. Armed bands do pass anigh us; so perchance Sir Robert hath driven the foe out upon the plain.”’ “Master Will! You know as well as i that my lord would permit of no sally!” Squinting down an arrow, the archer paused to cut back the feathering a trifle. Every day of their stay in the garden he had come in with news of Robert’s deeds and his health, and he was well aware that the maid loved the knight aS an enduring love. “Hum. Why then, being weary, my lord doth sleep. »For, look ye, a night of sword- strokes doth weary a wight somewhat. Even I——” Ellen smiled at him. “You are a brave liar and a hardy rogue, Will Bunsley. Think you Sir Robert would sleep when the clarions were sounding? Oh, for one word She broke off to hsten to the murmur out- side the gate, her brown eyes dark with anxiety, for Ellen herself had not slept while the clarions were heard upon the wall. “Why, lass, he will be here anon,”’ nodded the archer confidently. ‘Aye, he sought you out i’ the mountain pass and in the wizarder’s palace. So go thou within and change to thy warrior dress to greet him.” The girl knew that Will was hiding his misgivings and wished: her to be clad as a man because he thought danger was at hand. So she went to her chamber and donned the light mail and steel-cap, thrust- ing her hair beneath the cotton drop. Cast- ing the silk kkalat over her shoulders, she hurried forth to the garden. For a moment her glance quested in search of Will, who had disappeared. Then she heard his voice, loud with amazement. “Lass—lass! The good father sees—he sees! A miracle hath come to pass!” Ellen caught her breath, and, realizing better than the yeoman what his words por- tended, ran swiftly to the room of Father Evagrius. The patriarch was sitting up, one hand clasping his thin chest, the other outstretched in the air; his emaciated face was flushed, and his lips quivered. Will Bunsley stood agape in a far corner. “Monseigneur!” cried the girl. The eyes of the priest held a new light; Adventure no longer did they wander or lift viewlessly to the sky. They were fixed on the white wall, where the sunlight struck through a latticed embrasure. “The mercy of God!’ Evagrius framed the words with diffi- culty, and then his voice grew clearer. “‘T see the light of the sun! O blessed and fortunate! Nay, this is no abode of pay- nims!” He glanced into the shadows, and Ellen sank on her knees beside him, supporting his shoulders with her arm. The hand of the patriarch felt her mailed throat and the steel head-piece. ‘Who attends me? I can not see you, but surely you must be one of the warriors of the Sepulcher. Behold—” his finger darted at the wall—“the tomb! Aye, the sun is bright on the Via Dolorosa and the walls of the blessed city. I can see the en- sign of the cross—there.”’ His eyes closed, and Ellen felt under her hand the heat of the fever that had made him delirious. Yet his lips twitched in a ceaseless smile. “Happy are those who have taken up the cross!” he cried again, stretching out his thinarms. “They are at home in Jerusalem, and the weary lie here at rest. O warrior, will you come with me to the tomb—yonder, a little way?” “Aye, father,” said Ellen, bowing her head. “And bring the good knight Robert. For the Lord hath called to him the mighty men, and they come from the far places.” ‘“Aye, father.” She eased the patriarch back to his couch and looked steadily into his face. After a moment she bent forward to close the blind man’s eyes and to cross his hands on his breast. “Evagrius hath died,” she said to the archer, who had drawn nearer uncertainly. “Nay,” objected Will. “A moment agone he could see. ‘Here is a miracle,’ said I, and a miracle it was.” ‘“‘Perchance it was, Master Will,” assented the girl. “Now do you leave me, for a prayer must be said and candles placed fit- tingly. And then—what.can we do?” Will sought the garden and halted in his tracks. A dull crashing resounded from the alley, and the outer door quivered back against its bars. The wood splintered, and the head of anax showed through. Catching COmiclbooks G (©