Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 147: what you’re looking at

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

Under the Fleur-de-Lis no fire in them and your Frenchmen are fends.” The end of that talk was that they left the angry lady on the road and marched on with most of the baggage. Taddeo and all his unmounted men, who had pikes and swords, and the baggage and some of the horsemen kept the road. Silvain picked out a dozen who were young and well mounted and led them off by the way he had come through the hills. we gO ale Philibert saw at last the expect- <> ed Mantuan company. It marched with a couple of horsemen ahead, a guard of horsemen in the rear, and in the midst a long train of mules and litters with pike- men marching on either side. There be- yond doubt was the lady Isabella. The first horsemen were suffered to pass. When the mule train came, Gilbert and Philibert broke out of ambush. The pikemen were ready, turned and stood shoulder to shoulder, a line of spears on either side the litters. “Away, you sheep,” Gilbert roared as he charged. ‘Break them, break in!” And Philibert and he and one or two more charged through the spears but the most of his men, unarmored, flinched from the steady line or could not break it. Then came a shout from their rear, ‘Mantua! Mantua!” and the thunder of galloping horses and while they wondered and faltered and turned, bewildered what this might be, from the ground where they had lain in ambush fresh men charged on them shouting ‘“Mantua! Mantua!” That was the end of Gaston’s company. It reeled and broke and the cautious Taddeo came up and flung in his reserve to sweep it away. Scattered into single horsemen, leaving many fallen on the road, it fled back into the hills. Silvain halted and took off his helmet. “T wonder if he knew me, the brave Gilbert,” he smiled. Taddeo’s trumpet sounded the rally. Taddeo was in a hurry to form his column again and be off. The lady and her guard were brought up, he gave the word to march and rode beside her. “Rest at ease, my lady. There is no more to fear of them. They are broken men. It went hard for a while, but I have my pikes well drilled and they stood to it SO THE sentries of Gilbert and 125 till I could develop my tactic. Then the thing was done. The truth is they have no science, these Frenchmen. They are bold in the charge but they do not know how to order a fight.” 3 | ‘Where is our Frenchman?” said the lady. “Oh, he is gone on with the advance guard. It is a wild youth,” Taddeo smiled indulgently. ‘He must wear out many a horse. He ranges to and fro like a dog. But I do not fear to trust him.” “That is gracious,” said the lady. “Then you will give me leave to speak with him? Bid him come.” But Silvain did not come. He was re- solved that the lady should fall into no other ambush and he rode far ahead of Taddeo’s stolid column, searching the ground. It was not till the walls of Mantua were in sight that he halted beside the road and waited for her litter. From the town where her family ruled a troop was ridin out to meet her. Taddeo saw it anit barked out orders that set his men dressing their ranks and marching stiffly. Silvain and Thibaut sitting at ease on their tired horses watched the column go by. When the golden litter came Silvain drew his sword and saluted the lady. She did not see him at first for she lay back on the cushions and Taddeo was riding at her side. ‘Then she raised herself on her elbow. “Bid them halt, Taddeo,”’ she cried and beckoned to Silvain. ‘‘Why do you sit there like a statue, my friend?” she said. “T bade you come to me long ago.” “T am your servant, lady. I was watch- ing the road. And here the road ends. I pray you give me leave to kiss your hand.” “Forward, Taddeo,” she signed to him to let Silvain come to her. The column began to move. “And what is your road, my friend?” “T go my way to seek honor.” She smiled. “There is none by my side?” “By my faith, I am proud that I ride here.” “Ves, you are proud,” she said, consid- ering him. ‘I also have some pride, my friend. You have brought me safe out of a vile danger. What shall I give you for that?” “TI pray you, give me your hand to kiss.” A’man came riding fast down the column, a sturdy fellow in a rich array of blue and red and gold. He bowed low to the lady and swung his horse round to her. Comiclhool< Wh) (© 5}