Adventure Magazine Cover, October 30, 1924 — page 107: what you’re looking at

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

The Moor of Milan 97 ‘Come, Clarissa.”” And they galloped on. Silvain and Thibaut held their old steady pace and Thibaut looked about him over the open country, where was no cover near or far, nor any turn in the straight road and hunched his shoulders. ‘Pity me,” he grunted. “I shall die without my breakfast.” They were seen. The squadron behind them saw how few they were and broke rank and came roaring on. Silvain checked and turned, and drew his sword. But some one else had seen them too. Away down the road to Milan a single horseman was halted holding aloft a lance with a pennon and he blew a trumpet call and cried a challenge to Bonivard. Silvain turned again. ‘Milan!’ he shouted. ‘Friends of Milan! Milan to aid!” and Thibaut and he galloped after Bonivard. ‘‘Silvain of France I am,”’ he cried as he came. “TI ride for the Lord Lodovico.” Other horsemen were coming up to the man with the lance. They barred the road, they brought Bonivard and the lady to a stand. “Let them pass, friends,’ Silvain cried. ‘I bring them to the Lord Lodovico. And here 1s Carlo of Pavia hunting us and we are spent. Hold off his knaves for me.” The horsemen were now some half-score and had an officer. He stared at Silvain, raised his hand in salute. - “Open out, lads. Let them pass. Ride to the captain, Beppo, and tell him Sir Silvain has come with the girl and a pack of wolves at his heels. How many, my lord?” ‘Call them fifty, sir. Good thanks.” “I call them a hundred. No matter; we will make play. And Ercole is behind. Good thanks to you, my lord. Here is sport. Ride on, ride on!”’ He set his men going and dashed at the jeaders of the pursuit and Silvain, looking over his shoulder, saw the first of a pretty skirmish, but his horse was jaded and he sighed and rode on after Bonivard. Before them loomed up the walls of an old castle and out of it came troops of men- at-arms. Bonivard stopped and looked back at Silvain. ‘‘Where have you brought us, sir?” he said in a low voice. ‘“‘Why, that is Binasco, a castle of Lodo- vico’s. We are on his land now. By my seth, it was time, Louis.”’ Silvain laughed and looked back at the skirmish. ‘He keeps good watch on his frontier.”’ “Is Lodovico your lord?” Bonivard frowned. ‘He is none of mine. I do not trust him.” “He and his have saved you. And safe you are, Louis. Trust me.”’ A burly knight came cantering up at the head of a squadron, Ercole, Silvain’s old foe of the trial of arms. “Well done, brother,” he laughed and waved his hand. ‘I do the rest,’’ and he clattered on to the fight and after him came another squadron of horse and a great com- pany of footmen. Slowly along the side of the road Silvain and his party came to the castle. ‘‘What have you for me now?” Bonivard said sullenly. “A day’s sleep, child,’ Silvain smiled. “That is her need,’ and he looked at Clarissa who hung over her horse’s neck and swayed. “In Lodovico’s castle? Not I. on. I will not trust him.” “You are my guest, Sir Louis,” Silvain said. “I pray you is there any reason why you should not trust me?”’ “Oh Louis!’ Clarissa cried and looked at him piteously and began to weep. “Hush, hush, for ’s sake,” Bonivard cried. “She has borne enough,” Silvain said gently. “You are safe, lady; you and he. I say it, I, Silvain de St. Lo. Go in!” I ride ati INTO the castle courtyard they wu2 rode and a sleek seneschal, bowing feel low before Silvain declared that the castle was at his orders, for the Lord Lodo- vico had sent orders to give Sir Silvain de St. Lo all honor if he came. Silvain smiled. It seemed to him that Lodovico felt a proper confidence in his success. And honor they had at Binasco, zealous service, rich fare and rooms of luxury and quiet, and so slept out the day. Silvain waked in the gloaming with a servant beside him who said that the Lady Beatrice had come to the castle and bade him wait on her. He was taken to the warden’s tower and went up to the council chamber and found her there alone. She started up and saluted him like a man. “Hail, conqueror!” she laughed. “I have flown to your triumph. All hail! And now cComicbooks.c© inn