Adventure Magazine Cover, October 30, 1924 — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

102 They rode lighter than those men-at- arms; they were better mounted, though their horses were jaded and they kept their lead. But the men-at-arms rode hard and a troop thundered on behind them. Bonivard ranged alongside Silvain. “They will ride us down in the end,” he muttered. ‘‘What hope is there if Lodo- vico takes us again?”’ ‘“‘There is none for you or me, brother. For her, I can not tell.” “Tf Iam to die I will die fighting,” said Bonivard. Silvain smiled. “T shall be with you, brother. We will turn on them together and hold them some little while. It may be she will win free, God be kind to her.” “What are you saying?” Clarissa cried. ‘Ride, lady, ride,” Silvain said. ‘You must not be taken for our honor’s sake.” “Give me your dagger, Louis,”’ she cried. “T will not be taken alive.” Bonivard came to her side and loosed his dagger and she put it in her bosom. “Live while I live,” he said. ‘Oh, it is cruel, it is cruel,” she cried. They were riding through a flat country of many rivers, there was no hope in turning off the road and the road lay straight and the men-at-arms held on behind in close order. In a little while they saw a cloud of dust ahead and as they drew nearer it broke into gleams of steel. ‘““My God, here is the end,” Bonivard groaned. ‘We are taken now. Come, my lord,”’ and he checked his horse to turn. But Silvain cried— “Ride on, man, ride. These are not Milanese. I see the golden lilies.” And he stood in his stirrups and shouted— “France! France!”’ AS FOR through the dust came a gleam 2.5 of the French banner. An order rang out, the squadron halted, the lances came down to the charge, a knight rode out alone. “Who are you that come upon us?” He held up his hand. ‘Halt there!” But Silvain dashed on and “‘Bayard!”’ he cried. ““God’s grace, you are Silvain de St. Lo. In a good hour, my lord.” “SilvainI am. And it is God who brought you, my brother. Here is a lady hunted for Adventure her life. pray you.” ‘Why, you bring me honor.” Bayard turned and called to his men. Through the French lances Clarissa and Bonivard rode on and the ranks closed be- hind them and the Milanese horsemen, see- ing that rampart of steel bar their way, checked and halted in disorder. Bayard called to them— ‘Who are you that ride against the banner of France? Go your way, I clear this road for King Charles.”’ Then the captain of Lodovico’s men cried out— ‘We are friends of France. We serve the Lord of Milan. Hehassent us to take these rogues we hunt. Give us them, sir, and you will do your king gocd service. For my Lord Lodovico is his friend, you know it well.”’ “T do not know you,” said Bayard. “But this I know: You have hunted a fair lady and this good knight of France. And now you stand in my way and I lead the van- guard of King Charles.” He turned in his saddle. ‘“‘Advance, banner,” he shouted. “In close order. Charge!’ But Lodovico’s men did not wait for the word. They turned and made off at speed. “You have saved me, brother,” Silvain said. ‘But I have brought trouble on you.”’ “Good faith, here is none,’ Bayard laughed. ‘“‘The king comes to join with Lodovico. And Lodovico will not forgive this day’s work. He hunted this lady and her knight because he has stolen her inheritance. He hunted me because I saved them. And he 1s venomous.”’ “Why man, what care I? I have done right. Do not fear for me. Bayard can guard himself.” “Be wary, brother. Your king is allied toa fiend. I would to God I could ride with you. Fare you well.” Bayard stopped his horse. “You must go guard the lady? So be it. But come back to us, Silvain. Here is a fair field of honor and no better knight of us all than you.” “T dare not,” Silvain said hoarsely. ‘‘Oh, my brother, | would give my life and be glad to ride under the golden lilies with you. But you go to serve Lodovico, you and France. There is no honor in that, Bayard.” Let her pass and guard her, I CoOMmiclbooks mM