AZON THE TERRIBLE; OR, The Spectre of the Brocken.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3988, 3 May 1884, Page 5 (Supplement)

AZON THE TERRIBLE; OR, The Spectre of the Brocken.

By John Frederick Smith

A TALE OP THE BLACK FOREST

nm woveust.

CHAPTER XIII. Quiclriy they saddle their steeds for flight;

Bark foemen follow the chase by night ; O'er bog and through fen they fiercely ride, Tracing their prey by the mountain side. Onward they sweep, the bold ritter bands ; Strong are their hearts, but stronger their hands. Though bloodshed and firo mark the fell track, Death hath no terrors to warn them back. The Author.

The stern defiance cast in the teeth of the accuserby our hero produced aseeneofwildest confusioninthe great hallof Eagenstein,cach one striving to make himself heard. The cries of women rose like the alto voices in some weird, fantastic overture occasionally above the deep bass of the men, then died away in low, plaintive wailings. Elgitha hud fainted. Maddened at the sight, courageous as the young lion called to defend its mate, Roland repeated the defiance so fiercely hurled at the head of her accuser. ' Liar ! Incarnate liar !' he said. The Palsgrave smiled. He knew that it •was not by words that the quarrel could be decided.

'I fan but admire the fiery valor,' lie said, in a sneering tone, ' which vents itself in insuit against an unarmed man. Trusting to the honor and safe-conduct of the Lord of Bagenstein, I came to his friendly banquet ■without my sword. His eon, it seem?, is better prepared. . For the first, time it was noticed by tho knights and nobles that the speaker was totally unarmed—not even a dagger in his jewelled belt. With a violent, effort to master the passionate indignation raging in his breast, our hero eheathed his sword—an imploring gesture from Alf had decided him. 'Patience!' he murmured to himself. 'Butit is hard!' No doubt but the lessons of patience are hard. Many a lofty purpose and bright career lias been defeated by refusing to listen to them. Few great achievements have ever been performed without them. Meanwhile the Countess of Ragenstein and the female guests had quitted the hall, and comparative silence had been at last restored. The Lord of Emms was the first to speak. He was an aged man, somewhat prejudiced by his rank, perchance, and the prestige it gave him, but of undoubted honor. His words naturally carried weight with them.

'Knights and nobles," he said, 'we have witnessed a strange and painful scene. A serious accusation has been made, and a fierce denial—defiance- given. The attempt to poison Prince Rodolph we cannot doubt— we all witnessed it. The evidence,' he added, pointing to the body of the hound, ' is before us ; but are we, I would ask, in a sufficiently calm, temperate frame of mind to judge dispassionately ? Mine is but a singlo voice amongst ye, yet 1 entreat ye let it be heard. For three hours postpono all further discussion and investigation ; then let us meet again, with cooler blood, to decide the question of the maiden's guilt or innocence.'

' Her innocence,' exclaimed Roland, 'is beyond dispute. Ask those with whom she lias been roared, the daily witnesses of her

' ->re life, unsullied thoughts and gentle eharaci >r ' This accusation is most, monstrous ; jj Li/wl of Emms.' he continued, ' forgets that Had " <;r>B ' :e i n i s an independent principality owin<' lx ° ( ' ut, y save totno cm P n ' G i" time of war ; °acL'™ ] fg™g but one J ud g°- m y sovereign and t. %t f er ' .. To avoid f ur t.Her contest the proposition OF the aged noblo B S™ ed to, and the aseembly dispersed, to meet again at the appointed time. Many .* g uesfc 9 ul ed f ° banquet hall with clouder. brow and thoughtful mien ; the death of the bound, evidently by poison, had somewhat shaken them. Men were apt to mistake inferences' evidence in those days of ignorance. We question if those of the present ago are exempt «om tne fatal error. As soon as tbo meeting began to diverse, our hero hastened on the wings of mipatjent love to the apartment of his mother to seek his betrothed bride, to console and reassure her. Elgitha had reoovered from her swoon ; the lover found her pale nnd terror-stricken, encircled by the protecting arms of tliu countees, and surrounded by such noble ladies as had graced the banquet with their presence. Without a word he advanced towards tne spot where she was seated, |and bending the knee, imprinted a kiss upon her hand- At this proof of his devotion—far moro eu> quent than words would have been —her selfpossession once more gavo way, and she broke into a flood of tears. ' Roland,' she murmured, ' you do notibelieve that I—' is he could not proceed; emotion stiflnd the cry of plaintivo innocence upon her lips. , y ' Wrong not my love by such a question, he exclaimed. ' Could such a vile suspicion find entrance to my mind I were unworthy of the heart I prize. As soon could I doubt the virtue of tho mother who bore me, the honor of the father whose life has been one of honor, the purity of the guar- , dian angel who watches over us. . The words fell sweetly upon her ears, and their soothing effect succeeded in partially -calming the agitation of her humbled heart. 'It is but a passing cloud,' continued her lover ; ' the baneful night dew on tho halfclosed flower. The glorious sun of truth must soon arise, and injured virtue walk triumphant forth, radiant in all the majesty tof innocence unsullied by a breath.' ' Would to Heaven that I were a man,' said Louise, who, since the entrance of our hero, had retired from the sido of her friend and eat crying apart. ' Thank it rather that you arc something mucli better, , observod Otto of Zello, who £ •* followed Roland from the hall, and stood ' h .? v Hf watching her. Sll f n . l * what may jthafcbe? , inquired the , v i x>king innocently into his face. maiden, It xepUed the kniglll . ■ a fcrue . A woman. g epman —creation's masterhearted, genero „, Fo)i Wuen good) piece and crow, when M . nearest to angels in

t W ™<> V * A L °T' nothing can be good which 0^ for demons, I cannot be so c* , *? 10 .'™? having seen one, at least in femiN c r"f, * ' Never ?' repeated Otto, empha.«ca"J- - • At least not to my knowledge,' acidcci tue maiden ; ' and I would do no one injustice By a singular coincidence the thoughts of both the speakers reverted to Carlina. 'How will it all end ?' sighed the simpleminded girl. . Badly for both the lovers, I fear/ was tho reply, ' unless their friends adhere to them, heart-and hand, banner and spear.' ' You'at least will be by the side of the oppressed,?' observed Louise. ' You forget my predilections for a religious life,' replied Otto, with well-assumed gravity, 'and surely you, who have devoted fouraelf so firmly to the cloister would not deter me from the sacred calling ?

The answer came slowly. < I am not ao euro of that, she replied. 5 Men have so many duties to perform, lo defend their country, redress unmerited wrong, and protect the innocent. I trust the thought is not a sinful one; but it seems to me that such are religious duties. Poor, weak woman has but one. To pray. < Yea—one other,' whispered the knight. ' To console the afflicted. Consideration generally, comos to us borne on a-ogel wings. Possibly the speaker might have Bug-

posted other duties, but prudence kept him silent.

Wβ sometimes suspect that Otto of Zellc was playing rntlipr an artful game with the fair Louise. One thing, at least, we venture to predict.: whether successful or not, it. will prove to have been an honest one— and thiit is all the information we think fit to impart to our readers for the present.

At the meeting of the knights and nobles, some three hours later, the Palsgrave repeated the accusation against our heroine, 1 but in terms so calm and studiously fair that his words produced considerable effect upon the minds of the wavers—men who, ineap- ' able of forming opinions of their own, accept those last urged. There was, however, one weak point in his statement. He had shown no motive for the attempt. "When this was pointed out to him he hesitated for an instant and looked confused. ' The strange aversion, not to say hatred, the maiden displayed towards my son, , he added. ' Many mu9t have noticed it.' Several of his hearers admitted this to be true. ' Granted,' observed Count Linseignen ; 'still it is not sufficient to account for such a crime.' ' Nothing can account for it,' exclaimed Roland, impetuously; 'it is too monstrous even for credulity to accept. My lords and knights, many of you have daughters, sisters, mothers, wives, the joy and light of your homes, not one of whom —and I assert it boldly—is more pure, more incapable of so foul an attempt than the victim of this slanderous accusation, for which there must be some 11 end-like secret motive. The reputation of Prince Azon,' he added, ' is not unknown to you. His alliance has ever been fraught with danger; his friendship the seal of death ; his confidence a mark of dishonor.'

On hearing himself thus fearlessly denounced a dark frown appeared upon the hitherto impassable countenance of the Palsgrave, but rested only for an instant there ; a smile of contemptuous pity replaced it.

' To you,' he said, turning to the assembly, ' and to you only, do I condescend to reply. I heed not the ravings of a love-sick boy ; they are beneath my notice. You doubtless marked my hesitation to you. I will explain the cause. I did not wish to prejudice your judgment against her. This virtuous maiden, this affianecrl bride of the heir of Ragcnstein, is tho daughter of that Italian fiend, the fount Giraldi—a name in famous throughout our fatherland. This truth has long been known to me. The proofs arc at my cnetle of Baden. ,

There was a murmur of surprise and cries of ' Proceed ! proceed' from many who heard him. ''he name of Giraldi had evidently produced an unfavorable impression.

' It is not unknown to you,' resumed tho wily speaker, 'that when my brother, the Into Palsgrave, fell in battle, fighting gloriously for the empire and fatherland, and against ambitious France, ho left a widow and infant, child, tho heiress of his vacant throne. This Giraldi, smooth in discourses, pleasing in person, nnd, like most of his countrymen, subtle, \inscrupulous, and ambition?, won to his lore tho widow, and thought by marriage to obhiin the crown. The rest 1 is a mere matter of history—his cold-blood-ed, fiond-like murder of thn infant heiress ; the indignant opposition of her family, which forced theadventnrer to fly, and condemned tho infatuated, if not guilty mother to a cloister ; and my own accession to the sovereignty.' ' Silence, Roland,' said the count, as our hero was about to renly to this most plausible speech. 'It is for me to answer tho noble i'al.sgruve of the Rhino.' ' Can you not trust your father ?' whispered Alf in the ear of his pupil, who resumod the seat from which he had partially risen. ' What does my honored guest require at our hands?' added the Lord of Ragenstein. ''i hat this wretched girl, tho daughter of a convict felon, be given up to trial for her attempt upon the life of my eon, Prince Rodolph. , ' And who are to bo her judges ?' 'land my brother nobles.' ' That may scarcely be,'sj answered the count, sarcastically. ( In mj' own territories I am the only judge, and his highnpss can scarcely expect I should resign my prerogative, oven at his request. First it must bo proved that the accused is the daughter of this Giraldi.' 'Ts not niy word—' interrupted Azon. ' Important, no doubt, but not sufficient. , I My oath, then ?' ' The courtesy due to an honored guest, , said his host,' 'forbids mo to reply to such n question. The proofs of the Lady Elgitlia's birth aro, as he has just avowed, at his castle on the Rhine. Let him produce them. As for giving her up to trial, it will be time to answer that demand when the evidence is laid before us. By the accuse! ,, c own showing the accttted is noble, and entitled *o the ordeal of battle. ' Bagenstoin has spoken wisely,' observed the Lord of Emms. ' And reasonably,' added several others present, for the impression produced by Azon's artful representations began to wear off, nnd the tyrant bit his lips in wrath. ' Means may be found at last to change your determination. , 'By war?' demanded the count. The words of fierce defiance hovered on the lips of his guost an instant. An instant's reflection told him they would vitiate the conditions of the safe-conduct and justify the commencement of hostilities, which he did not feel prepared to encounter. Azon saw that the position was a dangerous one, and, with his usual cunning, sought to temporize. I 1 spoke not of war,' he said. 'I and my noble ally of Bnrlcn came to Ragenstein in all courtesy, nnd in all courtesy we shall depart. If unopposed, the better,' he added, 'for its sovereign's honor. If attacked; we shall know how to defend ourselves.' So saying, Azon quitted the hall, accompanied by several nobles who sided with him. His departure was the signal, if not of confusion, of that mixed conversation in which every one tries to make his opinions heard. 'He will appeal to the omperor,' said one. 'The emperor is far distant,' added another. ' There our friends are in error, , exclaimed Otto of Zclle. ' I have just heard by sure intelligence that Henry the Fourth has quitted Nuremberg and is on his march towards Frankfort. , 'So near ?' observed several. At this unexpected information an expression of vaguo uneasiness clouded the countenance of more than one noble who held his fief of the empire, snd several expressed an intention of returning at once to their own domains, that they might be upon the spot to offer homage to their suzerain. Roland regarded them reproachfully. <■ Let them depart,' said Alf. ' They are not worth a thought. Such friends are like shadows—seen only in the sunshine. The approach of the emperor affects us more seriously, .since ho alone Injs a legal right to take the Lady Elgitha from yoiu , father's protection.' 'To transfer her a helpless victim to the custody of tho accueer!' said our hero. ' Never whilst I have life to defend her. ,

' You forget,' observed his old tutor, gravely, 'thatßngensteinis not a sanctuary. We must invoke a greater power to shield her. U be church.'

At this suggestion a fresh light dawned upon the minds of his hearers. ' She must to Corbcy,' continued the speaker. ' I have foreseen this, and prepared everything for journeying safely—nnd you miißt escort her.'

Neither the count nor his son manifested the least surprise at Alf's having taken such decided action on himself. They knew his influence with tho rugged sons of the forest, who, in tho warmth of their gratitude, would execute, unquestioning, any direction he might give. The arrangement was made ; the trembling fugitive wns to start at midnight, her lovG-i , , with a picked band of men-at-arms, was to escort her. But one doubt lingered in the mind of

Roland : Would the new abbot, so lately seated in authority, venture to exercise the privileges of his high office and protect her? This doubt he imparted-to the dwarf.'

' You do not know him,' replied the latter. ' Gor.tle as a child in all the sweet humanities of life, he lacks not courage to defend the innocent and maintain the edict of Charlemagne. His orozier against Henry's sceptre. It noeds no prophet to foresee the result. . When Louise was informed of the meditated flight of her friend, she declared in terms so positive that actual force alone should prevent her sharing in the danger, that every objection gave way. Even Elgitha pleaded in vain—nothing could shake her. ' Why risk your life ?' urged the disinterested maiden. 'Let mine be the only sacrifice, clearest Louise ; it needs not this proof of your devotion. Remain, I implore you, at Ragenstein; you will be in safety here.' ' And you ?' ' As heaven wills it. ' They shall not separate us !' exclaimed the brave-hearted girl, throwing her arms around her. 'Wo have been reared together in sisterly love and confidence unbroken. In the hour of peril would you have deserted me ? I know you would not. Elgitha, , she added,'you have no right to ask me to set an example of such baseness. .

As the count and countess approved the resolution, all further opposition ceased, and preparations were hastily made for their departure. When Azon and the Duke of Baden retired to the hnts beyond the walls in which their retainers were lodged, the first orders given to the men wore to armjthemselves. It was obeyed with alacrity. Not for the assault ; Ragenstein was too well dofendod for that; but for defence. The wily Palsgrave had violated his own safe-conduct too frequently to trust implicity to that of his brother noblee. Consequently, when, an hour after midnight, his spies informed him that a well-armed party, guarding a litter, had quitted the castle, he at once divined not only the flight of hi 3 intended victim, but the direction she had taken. Corboy, with its antique privileges and priestly sway, was an obstacle to his designs which ho had not foreseen. Still ife did not appall him. Whatever the motives of bis hatred, he had vowed the death of Rl2lt.hu, and no sense of danger would deter him from the pursuit. Bitterly did he regret that he was not in the red land, where lie had thousands of arms ready to obey his behests, unquestioning and unquestioned—the mysterious, secret Vehme—and he secretly resolved to extend its sway, if possible, over the German land. Then, and then only, could he feel himself secure and sleep in peace.

' Remember, 1 he said to the troop of horsemen which had been silently collected under tho command of his son,' 'there must be no failure of the enterprise. The battled murderess must bo overtaken and slain. Honor demands it. The life of your future sovereign will be in danger as long as the traitress lives. Let no weak sentiment of pity, no respect for human laws, turn you from the pursuit. Spare not her defenders. Slay! Slay!

' Return successful, and your reward shall be priceless as the service you have rendered. You know me, and may trust the word of Azon.'

On hearing these atrocious orders, the men-at-arms, trained in his own reckless school of cruelty and despotism, uttered a half-suppressed cheer, and giving spur to their horses, started off in the pursuit.

Thoir blood was stirred. The hunters were keen as merciless—for the view-halloo had been given by a master who knew but too well how to excito the cupidity of his followers,

CHAPTER XTV. O, God ! it is a hideous sight When man contends with man ill his might, And the emerald turf is grimly spread With gore of the slain, the timeless dead. More hideous still such deeds should be The fruit of his own perversity ; And the stream of life so fiercely shod, Falls like a curse on tho guilty dead. Tiik Author. The ride through the Black Forest proved a cold one. The bleak northern wind had already sh-ewed the narrow, irregular tracks —for paths there were none —with the withered summer leaves, which danced fantastically, as if in mockery, before us. Stirred by this mighty brouth, the giant trees—many of them of primeval growth —waved their skeleton arms, screaming and yelling angrily after the fugitives, lest they should cscapo from their pursuers.

The scene was, in truth, a wild and desolate one. The only living things encountered were some half-starved wolves, or savage bears, disappointed in thoir search of prey. Mgitlia and Louise suffered less than might have been expected from the inclement season, the curtains of their litter being closed by the manly care of our hero and his friend, Otto, who bad insisted on accompanying the expedition. Knowing that Ragenstein was well guarded, Roland offered but slight, opposition to his purpose. A few words convinced him that it would be useless.

c No, no,' said the young knight, cutting short the well-meant remonstrance. 'You forget that the device of my house is, 'Firm and Constant. , Ernest the Strong, who first assumed it, proved his claim to consistency by cutting off the heads of the heathen Saxons who opposed his design of carving out a principality for himself out of their possessions. This angered the great emperor Karl, who was then subduing the country on his own account, and ill brooked the interference of my warlike ancestor. Very natural, you will say. Birds of prey admit no rivals in air, nor conquorore upon land. In answer to the imperial summons to lay down his arms Ernest replied by a flat refusal, and, to prove that he meant it, took another slice of territory, prudently relieving the inhabitants of their lives as well as property.

' Greatly enraged, Karl advanced against him, but found the land a desert —neither food for his men nor forage for his horses. The position was an embarrassing one—Ernest threatening to join the Saxons; the emperor incapable of advancing further. , ' And how did the dispute terminate ?' inquired our hero, amused at the quaint simplicity with which Otto related the history of his ancestor.

'As such disputes generally do,' replied his friend, ' especially when both parties are equally in the wrong and neither choose to acknowledge it—by a compromise. They met at Hildesheim, on the spot where the abbey now stands. There was a pagan temple there then. The only condition imposed by the emperor before acknowledging the acquired rights of Ernest was that he should become a Christian.'

' What! Was your ancestor a pagan ?' exclaimed Roland.

' There is littlo doubt of it, I fear,' answered Otto with a smile ; ' but he proved the sincerity of his conversion by burning the temple of the Saxons.'

' Well, that was something, I confess,' oh served his hearer.

' And tho priests in it, , added the rmrra tor.

Our hero shuddered. Although imbued with the superstitions of the age in which he lived, the secret monitor placed above all creeds and formalities in the breast of man bade him abhor the act.

More then ono Christian sovereign of the present day is descended—if the legend ie truo—from Ernest the Stark, or Strong. For some short time the speakers rode on, following the litter in silence, till Otto of Zolle resumed the conversation. ' Poland, , he observed, 'youdisapprove of the dovico of my raoo ?' 'I do not approve of the means which pained it, , was the reply. ' I am very young to judge of such things, but it does soem to me that cruelty and oppression can never be right.' ' And I abhor, detest them/ exclaimed his friend. 'But what can I do? Centuries

have elapsed. To whom could I make restitution ? Besides, my vassals would regret me ; they might Akl a wiser, but not more indulgent master? 'Of that I am cortain,' said his hearer, warmly 'I have noticed the reverence, the almost affection with which they treat you ; how eagerly they wait upon your bidding. It was that which first drew my heart towards you.' ' You would not, then, advise me to retire to a cloister ?' 'To a cloister!' repeated Roland, in the greatest astonishment. ' What in the name of all tho sninfa can have inspired such a thought ? No, dear Otto, a hundred times no. Each man must pay the penalty of his own misdeeds ; his descendants can not be justly charged with them. , ' Since you think so, I am very sorry that , I made the promise.' 'The church can absolve you from it, no vows having been taken.' ' It was not to the church I made it. 1 ' To whom then ?' 'To Louise," answered Otto. There was a sly, half laughing, mischievous twinkling in his eyps which gavo , , ri?e lo a. suspicion in his friend thut the speaker had been playing upon him. 'We agreed—that is,' he added, 'we almost agreed, that when the3e troubles were past, and you and Elgitha made happy, it would be pleasant to retire from the world— Louise to her convent, I to my cloistered cell.' Despite the doubts and anxious fears corroding Ins young heart, our hero could not repress an involuntary smile as the truth flashed upon him. It was the knight of Zolle's quaint way of keeping his promise of confessing himself in lore whenever he made the discovery. ' You will keep my secret ?' he added. • V'ost faithfully,' answered his friend. 'From all. But have I really discovered it?' ' I fear you have,' was the reply. ' But mind, the promise does not extend to Elgitha.' ' Thanks for that. , 'Thereshonld benoseoretsbetween lovers,' continued Otto. 'That is, acknowledged lovers. Besides, she might prove a useful ally. But sound her cautiously.'

' You were evidently born to be a great general,' observed Roland, indulging in a second smile. ' The attack has been skilfully masked. It deceived even me.' 'I have seen a great deal of the world/ said his friend, demurely. Day was just beginning to dawn, and by its fainfc glimmering light the speakers saw a tall, dark figure emergo from tho underwood, and place itself directly in the track they were pursuing. It was Griswald, —our hero's former guide to Corbey. 'Speed, v -ir Knights, , he shouted, as soonae they came within hearing. ' Your [departure from Ragenstein has been discovered, and tho wolves are in pursuit.' By wolves they understood that he meant tho followers of Azon. ' How near ?' demanded Roland. ' Three leagues.' 'And their number ?' ' More than twice outnumbers your band. Prince Rodolph leads them,' added tho old man. ' Pie lias sworn to take the Lady Elgitha and yourself back prisoners to his father, or leave his life in the forest.' ' The last clause was well put in,' observed Our hero, in a tone of calm resolution. 'Do you think we may trust this man ?' inquired Otto, in an undertone of his friend. The messenger overheard the question, and repeated tho word trust disdainfully. ' The master trusts me, , he said. This was the name by which Alf was generally spoken of throughout the district; ' and my young lord knows that he gives not his confidence lightly. But heed not that; for days, hundreds of strong arms have been preparing the means of protecting your flight to Corbey.' ' How can that be,' exclaimed Otto, ' when the necessity came so unexpectedly ?' ' Not to the master,' replied Griswald. ' He foresees all things. , : 'It is useless to question him,' observed Roland ; 'no amount of reasoning would shake his faith in the supernatural powers of Alf. There have been moments in my life when T almost believed in them myself, and should have done so with all tho credulity of a fanatic, had not the wise and kind old man explained to me the means by which he wrought such seemins miracles.' ' Waste no more time,' said the forester, who had been listening to the sounds in the air attentively. ' I can tell by the craoking of the underwood —the flight of the denizens of the wilderness —that the enemy are gaining upon us. Pursue your wiiy, my lord, yet do not tiro your horse ; you may still require its services. Once past the ravine of Erstadt, you may slacken (the rein ; all danger will have passed.' ' Kofc if the followers of Azon should cross it, too. , ' They never will cross it, , answered Griswald. ' The master hath foretold it, and I have sworn it. But lose no further time on to the ravine, and you arc safe. , With these last warning words, he darted into the thicket from which he had emerged, and disappeared as quickly as he had come. Meanwhile day had been breaking rapidly. Although shorn of much of its wild and savage grandeur, the ravine of Erstadt is still one of the most remarkable features of

the Black Forest. At the period wo are writing of, ib marked the boundaries between the possession of the Count of Ragenstein and those of the sovereign Abbey of Corbey. Ages far beyond the calculation of man—if indeed man had yet found his place on earth—some extraordinary convulsion of nature had rent the vast chain of rocks which forced it asunder, but so evenly as to leave precipitous walls on either side of the vast chasm, in which trees had sprung up and a rank vegetation gradually sprouted, till the entire space became one tangled and almost impenetrable thicket —the homo of the great brown bear, the wolf and wild boar, and also of men, who, with that instinctive love of freedom which God has implanted in the human heart, fly from social life when its oppressions become too cruel for endurance.

By the more settled inhabitants of tho forest these outcasts were regarded with terror, for their hands were against every mar. Of religion there was little to be found amongst them ; some were even pagans, •worshipping the traditionary Irminseule which they believed had been buried by Charlemagne under the foundations of Corbey.

Ferocious, cruel, and savage as they were, these wretched beings were not incapable of gratitude, which Alf had excited almost to enthusiasm by his skill in herbs, liberalty, and timely warnings of any expedition undertaken by the neighboring nobles against

them. Truly they had rarely or ever seen him, for lie distributed his gifts and medicines through the agency of Q-riswald. Some would even have prayed to him, for they regarded him as a mysterious superior being. Even those who rejected the superstition would, unhesitatingly, have taken life at his bidding, or risked their own at his command. Such was the race the dwarf had instructed to watch over the safety of tho fugitives in

their flight from Ragenstein. ** The only means of crossing this yawning chasm was by a wooden bridge, constructed with infinite*labor at the narrowest part just where the -jutting rock lessened the width about one third. To accomplish Ibis a large square pile had been reared, which rose from tho centre of the valley, some sixty feet high, and on it the supports of the bridge rested. On approaching this rough primitive-looking structure, Eoland and his friends observed clusters of men perched upon the massive timbers, busily occupied in filling the interstices with fragments of dry weed, withered, leaves, goat-skins, filled with bituminous matter skimmed from the sur-

face of the stagnant pools below, and quantities of sulphur which abounded in the distriofc. Having seen the litter pass securely over the bridge, the young knights dw'w a

little on one side, to watch the proceedings of their unknown allies. ' Should I ever be elected emperor,' observed Otto, when he comprehended their design, ' Alf shall command my armios. Some genius must have inspired him. , 'The genius of friendship,' repliod our hero.

' Pas 3on !' shouted the voice of G-riswald, from those who w«re preparing for the destruction of the bridge. ' Tho wolves aro near at hand.'

' I will not fly, , exclaimed Roland ' Honor and manhood alike forbid it.'

'Pass on,' repeated the voice. 'Rodolph, who is in advance of his followers in his impatience for your lifoblood, will cross after you. Onoe alone with him on the opposite side, strike for the maiden you love, for the honor of your race, for vengeance for his crimes!' ■

'He is right,'observed Otto. 'The laws of chivalry can demand no more. Would you throw your life away, overpowored by numbers ? It would bo folly, madness—not heroism.'

These considerations at last prevailed, and our hero passed the bridge, accompanied by the speaker. On reaching the opposite side the two friends drew rein under the shelter of a clump of trees to watch what occurred. They hhd not long to wait.

In a few minutes the prince came dashing on, some furlong in advance of his men. Revenge, hute, all the worst passions of his evil nature, were aroused at the thought of Elgitha escaping him. The flight—for such he considered it—of his rival had inspired him witli momentary courage foreign to his nature. Turning half round in his saddle he waved his arm to the f.anskeneters and vassals to follow him; then, laying his lance in rest, dashed over the bridge.

No living creature ever crossed it after him, for no sooner had ho passed it than a hundred hands were applied to the inflammable materials, and by the time his men reached the spot the entire structure was enveloped in flames, unci they stood aghast upon the brink of tho precipice, spectators of the contest soon to follow.

Rodolph glared wildly around him. He saw that all retreat was cut off, that he held his life in his own hand, and must defond it as he could : all succor was impossible. To add to his dismay, the man he most hated and feared stood like an avenging spirit before him, lance in rest, his countenance (lushed with anticipated triumph.

The baQled wretch looked despairingly round him.

' The coward felon's last, resource, flight,' said Rolund, scornfully, ' is denied you, and the quarrel between 119 must be decided hore, in sight of the ruflian band willing but impotent to aid you. Dishonored knight! vile slanderer of female innocence ! trickster in the joust! liar at the hospitable board ; the death of one of us is at hand !'

Gulled by the bitter words, and still more bitter scorn, of his accuser, his rival closed his helmet, and laying lance in rest, dashed to the encounter. So fierce was Jthe shock that the steeds sank back upon their haunches till their flowing tails swept the duet. That of the prince was unable to rise ; it had been overweighted and hard ridden. Our hero perceived this, but scorning to take advantage of the accident, dismounted from his own untired horse, and throwing away the fragment of tho splintered Jlance, drew his sword and faced his antagonist.

' Come on,' he said. ' Arm to arm will we decide it.'

For nearly an hour the contest raged. Both combatants were expert swordsmen. If Rodolpli had tho advantage of weight and experience, Roland balanced them by the pure, generous flume of love within his heart, the consciousness of unmerited wrong, and that high sense of courage which in a good cause prefers death to defeat. Otto of Zelle had drawn aside, a mute but interested spectator of the fight. Deeply as his feelings wore interested in the result, not a word escaped his lips ; he would have held himself dishonored had lie permitted even a look of encouragement towards his friend to have escaped him, and yet his mind was made up the while. If Roland fell, he would be his avenger. Thebattlo raged with that insensity which strong natures alone are capable of sustaining. Move than one flesh wound had been received on either side, for they were only partially armed — breastplate, helm, and gauntlets.

Eodolph, finding himself hard pressed, feigned to retreat towards the burning bridge, at the opposite end of which his followers stood drawn up to watch the contest. Our hero divined tho motive: it was to bring him within reach of their crossbows and give them an opportunity of terminating the struggle by a flight of bolts.

' Take breath, Prince,' ho cried, with mocking courtesy, but at the same time drawing back. ' The sight of your Lanskerieters may revive your courage. Pity,' he added, ' they are not sufficiently near to carry out your wishes.' llalfmaddened by the taunt, which showed that his purpose had been read, his adversary returned to the charge ; onec more the well-tempered blades crossed each other in deadly conflict, till both began to feel exhausted. Rodolph found his strength deserting him, and resolved to terminate the contest by a single blow. Grasping his weapon with botli hands, he made one desperate sweep, which but for the quick eye and ready springing aside of Roland might have proved fald. Soring that his antagonist had overbalanced himself in the effort, the point of his weapon pierced the throat of his rival, who sank exhausted upon one knee. ' Confess your foul slander,' said the victor, 'and ask your forfeit life.'

' Never !' groaned the princely ruffian. 'My father will avence me. To him I bequeath my hatred. Elgitha is—' Before he could repeat (he calumny, the sword of Roland was drawn from his Ihroat, and descending a second time, silenced the foul tongue of the accuser forever. A strange feeling crept over the heart of the conqueror as he contemplated the breathless corpse of his rival. It was not regret; for ho felt that he had dono no wrong, the deed having been forced upon him ; nor pity—for the dead man was both heartless and pitiless.

It was the natural revulsion of feeling which follows the shedding of blood, even in a just cause. 'Well and knightly done, , said Otto of Zelle, advancing to his friend. ' Are you wounded ?'

' A few scratches, merely.' ' To horse, then, and on to Oorbey. , (to be continued.)