At last--the tournament! Ever afterward the Hon. Samuel Budd called it
“The Gentle and Joyous Passage of Arms--not of Ashby--but of the Gap,
by-suh!” The Hon. Samuel had arranged it as nearly after Sir Walter as
possible. And a sudden leap it was from the most modern of games to a
game most ancient.
No knights of old ever jousted on a lovelier field than the green little
valley toward which the Hon. Sam waved one big hand. It was level,
shorn of weeds, elliptical in shape, and bound in by trees that ran in
a semicircle around the bank of the river, shut in the southern border,
and ran back to the northern extremity in a primeval little forest that
wood-thrushes, even then, were making musical--all of it shut in by
a wall of living green, save for one narrow space through which the
knights were to enter. In front waved Wallens' leafy ridge and behind
rose the Cumberland Range shouldering itself spur by spur, into the
coming sunset and crashing eastward into the mighty bulk of Powell's
Mountain, which loomed southward from the head of the valley--all
nodding sunny plumes of chestnut.
The Hon. Sam had seen us coming from afar apparently, had come forward
to meet us, and he was in high spirits.
“I am Prince John and Waldemar and all the rest of 'em this day,” he
said, “and 'it is thus,'” quoting Sir Walter, “that we set the dutiful
example of loyalty to the Queen of Love and Beauty, and are ourselves
her guide to the throne which she must this day occupy.” And so saying,
the Hon. Sam marshalled the Blight to a seat of honor next his own.
“And how do you know she is going to be the Queen of Love and Beauty?”
asked the little sister. The Hon. Sam winked at me.
“Well, this tournament lies between two gallant knights. One will make
her the Queen of his own accord, if he wins, and if the other wins, he's
got to, or I'll break his head. I've given orders.” And the Hon. Sam
looked about right and left on the people who were his that day.
“Observe the nobles and ladies,” he said, still following Sir Walter,
and waving at the towns-people and visitors in the rude grandstand.
“Observe the yeomanry and spectators of a better degree than the mere
vulgar”--waving at the crowd on either side of the stand--“and the
promiscuous multitude down the river banks and over the woods and
clinging to the tree-tops and to yon telegraph-pole. And there is my
herald”--pointing to the cornetist of the local band--“and wait--by my
halidom--please just wait until you see my knight on that black charger
o' mine.”
The Blight and the little sister were convulsed and the Hon. Sam went
on:
“Look at my men-at-arms”--the volunteer policemen with bulging
hip-pockets, dangling billies and gleaming shields of office--“and at my
refreshment tents behind”--where peanuts and pink lemonade were keeping
the multitude busy--“and my attendants”--colored gentlemen with sponges
and water-buckets--“the armorers and farriers haven't come yet. But my
knight--I got his clothes in New York--just wait--Love of Ladies and
Glory to the Brave!” Just then there was a commotion on the free seats
on one side of the grandstand. A darky starting, in all ignorance, to
mount them was stopped and jostled none too good-naturedly back to the
ground.
“And see,” mused the Hon. Sam, “in lieu of the dog of an unbeliever we
have a dark analogy in that son of Ham.”
The little sister plucked me by the sleeve and pointed toward the
entrance. Outside and leaning on the fence were Mollie, the big sister,
and little Buck. Straightway I got up and started for them. They hung
back, but I persuaded them to come, and I led them to seats two tiers
below the Blight--who, with my little sister, rose smiling to greet
them and shake hands--much to the wonder of the nobles and ladies close
about, for Mollie was in brave and dazzling array, blushing fiercely,
and little Buck looked as though he would die of such conspicuousness.
No embarrassing questions were asked about Mart or Dave Branham, but I
noticed that Mollie had purple and crimson ribbons clinched in one brown
hand. The purpose of them was plain, and I whispered to the Blight:
“She's going to pin them on Dave's lance.” The Hon. Sam heard me.
“Not on your life,” he said emphatically. “I ain't takin' chances,” and
he nodded toward the Blight. “She's got to win, no matter who loses.” He
rose to his feet suddenly.
“Glory to the Brave--they're comin'! Toot that horn, son,” he said;
“they're comin',” and the band burst into discordant sounds that would
have made the “wild barbaric music” on the field of Ashby sound like a
lullaby. The Blight stifled her laughter over that amazing music with
her handkerchief, and even the Hon. Sam scowled.
“Gee!” he said; “it is pretty bad, isn't it?”
“Here they come!”
The nobles and ladies on the grandstand, the yeomanry and spectators of
better degree, and the promiscuous multitude began to sway expectantly
and over the hill came the knights, single file, gorgeous in velvets and
in caps, with waving plumes and with polished spears, vertical, resting
on the right stirrup foot and gleaming in the sun.
“A goodly array!” murmured the Hon. Sam.
A crowd of small boys gathered at the fence below, and I observed the
Hon. Sam's pockets bulging with peanuts.
“Largesse!” I suggested.
“Good!” he said, and rising he shouted:
“Largessy! largessy!” scattering peanuts by the handful among the
scrambling urchins.
Down wound the knights behind the back stand of the base-ball field, and
then, single file, in front of the nobles and ladies, before whom they
drew up and faced, saluting with inverted spears.
The Hon. Sam arose--his truncheon a hickory stick--and in a stentorian
voice asked the names of the doughty knights who were there to win glory
for themselves and the favor of fair women.
Not all will be mentioned, but among them was the Knight of the
Holston--Athelstanic in build--in black stockings, white negligee shirt,
with Byronic collar, and a broad crimson sash tied with a bow at his
right side. There was the Knight of the Green Valley, in green and gold,
a green hat with a long white plume, lace ruffles at his sleeves, and
buckles on dancing-pumps; a bonny fat knight of Maxwelton Braes, in
Highland kilts and a plaid; and the Knight at Large.
“He ought to be caged,” murmured the Hon. Sam; for the Knight at Large
wore plum-colored velvet, red base-ball stockings, held in place with
safety-pins, white tennis shoes, and a very small hat with a very long
plume, and the dye was already streaking his face. Marston was the
last--sitting easily on his iron gray.
“And your name, Sir Knight?”
“The Discarded,” said Marston, with steady eyes. I felt the Blight start
at my side and sidewise I saw that her face was crimson.
The Hon. Sam sat down, muttering, for he did not like Marston:
“Wenchless springal!”
Just then my attention was riveted on Mollie and little Buck. Both had
been staring silently at the knights as though they were apparitions,
but when Marston faced them I saw Buck clutch his sister's arm suddenly
and say something excitedly in her ear. Then the mouths of both
tightened fiercely and their eyes seemed to be darting lightning at the
unconscious knight, who suddenly saw them, recognized them, and smiled
past them at me. Again Buck whispered, and from his lips I could make
out what he said:
“I wonder whar's Dave?” but Mollie did not answer.
“Which is yours, Mr. Budd?” asked the little sister. The Hon. Sam had
leaned back with his thumbs in the arm-holes of his white waistcoat.
“He ain't come yet. I told him to come last.”
The crowd waited and the knights waited--so long that the Mayor rose in
his seat some twenty feet away and called out:
“Go ahead, Budd.”
“You jus' wait a minute--my man ain't come yet,” he said easily, but
from various places in the crowd came jeering shouts from the men with
whom he had wagered and the Hon. Sam began to look anxious.
“I wonder what is the matter?” he added in a lower tone. “I dressed him
myself more than an hour ago and I told him to come last, but I didn't
mean for him to wait till Christmas--ah!”
The Hon. Sam sank back in his seat again. From somewhere had come
suddenly the blare of a solitary trumpet that rang in echoes around the
amphitheatre of the hills and, a moment later, a dazzling something shot
into sight above the mound that looked like a ball of fire, coming in
mid-air. The new knight wore a shining helmet and the Hon. Sam chuckled
at the murmur that rose and then he sat up suddenly. There was no face
under that helmet--the Hon. Sam's knight was MASKED and the Hon. Sam
slapped his thigh with delight.
“Bully--bully! I never thought of it--I never thought of it--bully!”
This was thrilling, indeed--but there was more; the strange knight's
body was cased in a flexible suit of glistening mail, his spear point,
when he raised it on high, shone like silver, and he came on like a
radiant star--on the Hon. Sam's charger, white-bridled, with long mane
and tail and black from tip of nose to tip of that tail as midnight. The
Hon. Sam was certainly doing it well. At a slow walk the stranger drew
alongside of Marston and turned his spear point downward.
“Gawd!” said an old darky. “Ku-klux done come again.” And, indeed, it
looked like a Ku-klux mask, white, dropping below the chin, and with
eye-holes through which gleamed two bright fires.
The eyes of Buck and Mollie were turned from Marston at last, and
open-mouthed they stared.
“Hit's the same hoss--hit's Dave!” said Buck aloud.
“Well, my Lord!” said Mollie simply.
The Hon. Sam rose again.
“And who is Sir Tardy Knight that hither comes with masked face?” he
asked courteously. He got no answer.
“What's your name, son?”
The white mask puffed at the wearer's lips.
“The Knight of the Cumberland,” was the low, muffled reply.
“Make him take that thing off!” shouted some one.
“What's he got it on fer?” shouted another.
“I don't know, friend,” said the Hon. Sam; “but it is not my business
nor prithee thine; since by the laws of the tournament a knight may ride
masked for a specified time or until a particular purpose is achieved,
that purpose being, I wot, victory for himself and for me a handful of
byzants from thee.”
“Now, go ahead, Budd,” called the Mayor again. “Are you going crazy?”
The Hon. Sam stretched out his arms once to loosen them for gesture,
thrust his chest out, and uplifted his chin: “Fair ladies, nobles of the
realm, and good knights,” he said sonorously, and he raised one hand to
his mouth and behind it spoke aside to me:
“How's my voice--how's my voice?”
“Great!” His question was genuine, for the mask of humor had dropped and
the man was transformed. I knew his inner seriousness, his oratorical
command of good English, and I knew the habit, not uncommon among
stump-speakers in the South, of falling, through humor, carelessness, or
for the effect of flattering comradeship, into all the lingual sins of
rural speech; but I was hardly prepared for the soaring flight the Hon.
Sam took now. He started with one finger pointed heavenward:
“The knights are dust
And their good swords are rast;
Their souls are with the saints, we trust.”
“Scepticism is but a harmless phantom in these mighty hills. We BELIEVE
that with the saints is the GOOD knight's soul, and if, in the radiant
unknown, the eyes of those who have gone before can pierce the little
shadow that lies between, we know that the good knights of old look
gladly down on these good knights of to-day. For it is good to be
remembered. The tireless struggle for name and fame since the sunrise
of history attests it; and the ancestry worship in the East and the
world-wide hope of immortality show the fierce hunger in the human soul
that the memory of it not only shall not perish from this earth, but
that, across the Great Divide, it shall live on--neither forgetting nor
forgotten. You are here in memory of those good knights to prove that
the age of chivalry is not gone; that though their good swords are rust,
the stainless soul of them still illumines every harmless spear point
before me and makes it a torch that shall reveal, in your own hearts
still aflame, their courage, their chivalry, their sense of protection
for the weak, and the honor in which they held pure women, brave men,
and almighty God.
“The tournament, some say, goes back to the walls of Troy. The form of
it passed with the windmills that Don Quixote charged. It is with you to
keep the high spirit of it an ever-burning vestal fire. It was a deadly
play of old--it is a harmless play to you this day. But the prowess of
the game is unchanged; for the skill to strike those pendent rings is no
less than was the skill to strike armor-joint, visor, or plumed crest.
It was of old an exercise for deadly combat on the field of battle; it
is no less an exercise now to you for the field of life--for the quick
eye, the steady nerve, and the deft hand which shall help you strike the
mark at which, outside these lists, you aim. And the crowning triumph
is still just what it was of old--that to the victor the Rose of his
world--made by him the Queen of Love and Beauty for us all--shall give
her smile and with her own hands place on his brow a thornless crown.”
Perfect silence honored the Hon. Samuel Budd. The Mayor was nodding
vigorous approval, the jeering ones kept still, and when after the last
deep-toned word passed like music from his lips the silence held sway
for a little while before the burst of applause came. Every knight had
straightened in his saddle and was looking very grave. Marston's eyes
never left the speaker's face, except once, when they turned with an
unconscious appeal, I thought, to the downcast face of Blight--whereat
the sympathetic little sister seemed close to tears. The Knight of the
Cumberland shifted in his saddle as though he did not quite understand
what was going on, and once Mollie, seeing the eyes through the
mask-holes fixed on her, blushed furiously, and little Buck grinned back
a delighted recognition. The Hon. Sam sat down, visibly affected by his
own eloquence; slowly he wiped his face and then he rose again.
“Your colors, Sir Knights,” he said, with a commanding wave of his
truncheon, and one by one the knights spurred forward and each held
his lance into the grandstand that some fair one might tie thereon the
colors he was to wear. Marston, without looking at the Blight, held his
up to the little sister and the Blight carelessly turned her face while
the demure sister was busy with her ribbons, but I noticed that the
little ear next to me was tingling red for all her brave look of
unconcern. Only the Knight of the Cumberland sat still.
“What!” said the Hon. Sam, rising to his feet, his eyes twinkling and
his mask of humor on again; “sees this masked springal”--the Hon. Sam
seemed much enamored of that ancient word--“no maid so fair that he
will not beg from her the boon of colors gay that he may carry them to
victory and receive from her hands a wreath therefor?” Again the Knight
of the Cumberland seemed not to know that the Hon. Sam's winged words
were meant for him, so the statesman translated them into a mutual
vernacular.
“Remember what I told you, son,” he said. “Hold up yo' spear here to
some one of these gals jes' like the other fellows are doin',” and as he
sat down he tried surreptitiously to indicate the Blight with his
index finger, but the knight failed to see and the Blight's face was
so indignant and she rebuked him with such a knife-like whisper that,
humbled, the Hon. Sam collapsed in his seat, muttering:
“The fool don't know you--he don't know you.”
For the Knight of the Cumberland had turned the black horse's head and
was riding, like Ivanhoe, in front of the nobles and ladies, his eyes
burning up at them through the holes in his white mask. Again he turned,
his mask still uplifted, and the behavior of the beauties there, as on
the field of Ashby, was no whit changed: “Some blushed, some assumed an
air of pride and dignity, some looked straight forward and essayed to
seem utterly unconscious of what was going on, some drew back in alarm
which was perhaps affected, some endeavored to forbear smiling and there
were two or three who laughed outright.” Only none “dropped a veil over
her charms” and thus none incurred the suspicion, as on that field of
Ashby, that she was “a beauty of ten years' standing” whose motive,
gallant Sir Walter supposes in defence, however, was doubtless “a
surfeit of such vanities and a willingness to give a fair chance to
the rising beauties of the age.” But the most conscious of the fair
was Mollie below, whose face was flushed and whose brown fingers were
nervously twisting the ribbons in her lap, and I saw Buck nudge her and
heard him whisper:
“Dave ain't going to pick YOU out, I tell ye. I heered Mr. Budd thar
myself tell him he HAD to pick out some other gal.”
“You hush!” said Mollie indignantly.
It looked as though the Knight of the Cumberland had grown rebellious
and meant to choose whom he pleased, but on his way back the Hon.
Sam must have given more surreptitious signs, for the Knight of the
Cumberland reined in before the Blight and held up his lance to her.
Straightway the colors that were meant for Marston fluttered from the
Knight of the Cumberland's spear. I saw Marston bite his lips and I saw
Mollie's face aflame with fury and her eyes darting lightning--no
longer at Marston now, but at the Blight. The mountain girl held nothing
against the city girl because of the Wild Dog's infatuation, but that
her own lover, no matter what the Hon. Sam said, should give his homage
also to the Blight, in her own presence, was too much. Mollie looked
around no more. Again the Hon. Sam rose.
“Love of ladies,” he shouted, “splintering of lances! Stand forth,
gallant knights. Fair eyes look upon your deeds! Toot again, son!”
Now just opposite the grandstand was a post some ten feet high, with a
small beam projecting from the top toward the spectators. From the end
of this hung a wire, the end of which was slightly upturned in line with
the course, and on the tip of this wire a steel ring about an inch in
diameter hung lightly. Nearly forty yards below this was a similar
ring similarly arranged; and at a similar distance below that was
still another, and at the blast from the Hon. Sam's herald, the
gallant knights rode slowly, two by two, down the lists to the western
extremity--the Discarded Knight and the Knight of the Cumberland,
stirrup to stirrup, riding last--where they all drew up in line, some
fifty yards beyond the westernmost post. This distance they took that
full speed might be attained before jousting at the first ring, since
the course--much over one hundred yards long--must be covered in seven
seconds or less, which was no slow rate of speed. The Hon. Sam arose
again:
“The Knight of the Holston!”
Farther down the lists a herald took up the same cry and the good knight
of Athelstanic build backed his steed from the line and took his place
at the head of the course.
With his hickory truncheon the Hon. Sam signed to his trumpeter to sound
the onset.
“Now, son!” he said.
With the blare of the trumpet Athelstane sprang from his place and came
up the course, his lance at rest; a tinkling sound and the first ring
slipped down the knight's spear and when he swept past the last post
there was a clapping of hands, for he held three rings triumphantly
aloft. And thus they came, one by one, until each had run the course
three times, the Discarded jousting next to the last and the Knight of
the Cumberland, riding with a reckless Cave, Adsum air, the very last.
At the second joust it was quite evident that the victory lay between
these two, as they only had not lost a single ring, and when the black
horse thundered by, the Hon. Sam shouted “Brave lance!” and jollied
his betting enemies, while Buck hugged himself triumphantly and Mollie
seemed temporarily to lose her chagrin and anger in pride of her lover,
Dave. On the third running the Knight of the Cumberland excited a
sensation by sitting upright, waving his lance up and down between the
posts and lowering it only when the ring was within a few feet of its
point. His recklessness cost him one ring, but as the Discarded had lost
one, they were still tied, with eight rings to the credit of each, for
the first prize. Only four others were left--the Knight of the Holston
and the Knight of the Green Valley tying with seven rings for second
prize, and the fat Maxwelton Braes and the Knight at Large tying with
six rings for the third. The crowd was eager now and the Hon. Sam
confident. On came the Knight at Large, his face a rainbow, his plume
wilted and one red base-ball stocking slipped from its moorings--two
rings! On followed the fat Maxwelton, his plaid streaming and his kilts
flapping about his fat legs--also two rings!
“Egad!” quoth the Hon. Sam. “Did yon lusty trencherman of Annie Laurie's
but put a few more layers of goodly flesh about his ribs, thereby
projecting more his frontal Falstaffian proportions, by my halidom, he
would have to joust tandem!”
On came Athelstane and the Knight of the Green Valley, both with but two
rings to their credit, and on followed the Discarded, riding easily, and
the Knight of the Cumberland again waving his lance between the posts,
each with three rings on his spear. At the end the Knight at Large
stood third, Athelstane second, and the Discarded and the Knight of the
Cumberland stood side by side at the head of the course, still even, and
now ready to end the joust, for neither on the second trial had missed a
ring.
The excitement was intense now. Many people seemed to know who the
Knight of the Cumberland was, for there were shouts of “Go it, Dave!”
from everywhere; the rivalry of class had entered the contest and now
it was a conflict between native and “furriner.” The Hon. Sam was almost
beside himself with excitement; now and then some man with whom he had
made a bet would shout jeeringly at him and the Hon. Sam would shout
back defiance. But when the trumpet sounded he sat leaning forward with
his brow wrinkled and his big hands clinched tight. Marston sped up the
course first--three rings--and there was a chorus of applauding yells.
“His horse is gittin' tired,” said the Hon. Sam jubilantly, and the
Blight's face, I noticed, showed for the first time faint traces of
indignation. The Knight of the Cumberland was taking no theatrical
chances now and he came through the course with level spear and, with
three rings on it, he shot by like a thunderbolt.
“Hooray!” shouted the Hon. Sam. “Lord, what a horse!” For the first time
the Blight, I observed, failed to applaud, while Mollie was clapping her
hands and Buck was giving out shrill yells of encouragement. At the
next tilt the Hon. Sam had his watch in his hand and when he saw the
Discarded digging in his spurs he began to smile and he was looking at
his watch when the little tinkle in front told him that the course was
run.
“Did he get 'em all?”
“Yes, he got 'em all,” mimicked the Blight.
“Yes, an' he just did make it,” chuckled the Hon. Sam. The Discarded
had wheeled his horse aside from the course to watch his antagonist. He
looked pale and tired--almost as tired as his foam-covered steed--but
his teeth were set and his face was unmoved as the Knight of the
Cumberland came on like a demon, sweeping off the last ring with a low,
rasping oath of satisfaction.
“I never seed Dave ride that-a-way afore,” said Mollie.
“Me, neither,” chimed in Buck.
The nobles and ladies were waving handkerchiefs, clapping hands, and
shouting. The spectators of better degree were throwing up their
hats and from every part of the multitude the same hoarse shout of
encouragement rose:
“Go it, Dave! Hooray for Dave!” while the boy on the telegraph-pole was
seen to clutch wildly at the crossbar on which he sat--he had come near
tumbling from his perch.
The two knights rode slowly back to the head of the lists, where the
Discarded was seen to dismount and tighten his girth.
“He's tryin' to git time to rest,” said the Hon. Sam. “Toot, son!”
“Shame!” said the little sister and the Blight both at once so severely
that the Hon. Sam quickly raised his hand.
“Hold on,” he said, and with hand still uplifted he waited till Marston
was mounted again. “Now!”
The Discarded came on, using his spurs with every jump, the red of his
horse's nostrils showing that far away, and he swept on, spearing off
the rings with deadly accuracy and holding the three aloft, but having
no need to pull in his panting steed, who stopped of his own accord.
Up went a roar, but the Hon. Sam, covertly glancing at his watch, still
smiled. That watch he pulled out when the Knight of the Cumberland
started and he smiled still when he heard the black horse's swift,
rhythmic beat and he looked up only when that knight, shouting to his
horse, moved his lance up and down before coming to the last ring and,
with a dare-devil yell, swept it from the wire.
“Tied--tied!” was the shout; “they've got to try it again! they've got
to try it again!”
The Hon. Sam rose, with his watch in one hand and stilling the tumult
with the other. Dead silence came at once.
“I fear me,” he said, “that the good knight, the Discarded, has failed
to make the course in the time required by the laws of the tournament.”
Bedlam broke loose again and the Hon. Sam waited, still gesturing for
silence.
“Summon the time-keeper!” he said.
The time-keeper appeared from the middle of the field and nodded.
“Eight seconds!” “The Knight of the Cumberland wins,” said the Hon. Sam.
The little sister, unconscious of her own sad face, nudged me to look at
the Blight--there were tears in her eyes.
Before the grandstand the knights slowly drew up again. Marston's horse
was so lame and tired that he dismounted and let a darky boy lead him
under the shade of the trees. But he stood on foot among the other
knights, his arms folded, worn out and vanquished, but taking his bitter
medicine like a man. I thought the Blight's eyes looked pityingly upon
him.
The Hon. Sam arose with a crown of laurel leaves in his hand:
“You have fairly and gallantly won, Sir Knight of the Cumberland, and
it is now your right to claim and receive from the hands of the Queen
of Love and Beauty the chaplet of honor which your skill has justly
deserved. Advance, Sir Knight of the Cumberland, and dismount!”
The Knight of the Cumberland made no move nor sound.
“Get off yo' hoss, son,” said the Hon. Sam kindly, “and get down on yo'
knees at the feet of them steps. This fair young Queen is a-goin' to put
this chaplet on your shinin' brow. That horse'll stand.”
The Knight of the Cumberland, after a moment's hesitation, threw his leg
over the saddle and came to the steps with a slouching gait and looking
about him right and left. The Blight, blushing prettily, took the
chaplet and went down the steps to meet him.
“Unmask!” I shouted.
“Yes, son,” said the Hon. Sam, “take that rag off.”
Then Mollie's voice, clear and loud, startled the crowd. “You better
not, Dave Branham, fer if you do and this other gal puts that thing
on you, you'll never--” What penalty she was going to inflict, I don't
know, for the Knight of the Cumberland, half kneeling, sprang suddenly
to his feet and interrupted her. “Wait a minute, will ye?” he said
almost fiercely, and at the sound of his voice Mollie rose to her feet
and her face blanched.
“Lord God!” she said almost in anguish, and then she dropped quickly to
her seat again.
The Knight of the Cumberland had gone back to his horse as though to get
something from his saddle. Like lightning he vaulted into the saddle,
and as the black horse sprang toward the opening tore his mask from his
face, turned in his stirrups, and brandished his spear with a yell of
defiance, while a dozen voices shouted:
“The Wild Dog!” Then was there an uproar.
“Goddle mighty!” shouted the Hon. Sam. “I didn't do it, I swear I didn't
know it. He's tricked me--he's tricked me! Don't shoot--you might hit
that hoss!”
There was no doubt about the Hon. Sam's innocence. Instead of turning
over an outlaw to the police, he had brought him into the inner shrine
of law and order and he knew what a political asset for his enemies that
insult would be. And there was no doubt of the innocence of Mollie and
Buck as they stood, Mollie wringing her hands and Buck with open mouth
and startled face. There was no doubt about the innocence of anybody
other than Dave Branham and the dare-devil Knight of the Cumberland.
Marston had clutched at the Wild Dog's bridle and missed and the outlaw
struck savagely at him with his spear. Nobody dared to shoot because of
the scattering crowd, but every knight and every mounted policeman took
out after the outlaw and the beating of hoofs pounded over the little
mound and toward Poplar Hill. Marston ran to his horse at the upper end,
threw his saddle on, and hesitated--there were enough after the Wild
Dog and his horse was blown. He listened to the yells and sounds of the
chase encircling Poplar Hill. The outlaw was making for Lee. All at once
the yells and hoof-beats seemed to sound nearer and Marston listened,
astonished. The Wild Dog had wheeled and was coming back; he was going
to make for the Gap, where sure safety lay. Marston buckled his girth
and as he sprang on his horse, unconsciously taking his spear with
him, the Wild Dog dashed from the trees at the far end of the field. As
Marston started the Wild Dog saw him, pulled something that flashed from
under his coat of mail, thrust it back again, and brandishing his spear,
he came, full speed and yelling, up the middle of the field. It was a
strange thing to happen in these modern days, but Marston was an officer
of the law and was between the Wild Dog and the Ford and liberty through
the Gap, into the hills. The Wild Dog was an outlaw. It was Marston's
duty to take him.
The law does not prescribe with what weapon the lawless shall be
subdued, and Marston's spear was the only weapon he had. Moreover, the
Wild Dog's yell was a challenge that set his blood afire and the
girl both loved was looking on. The crowd gathered the meaning of the
joust--the knights were crashing toward each other with spears at rest.
There were a few surprised oaths from men, a few low cries from women,
and then dead silence in which the sound of hoofs on the hard turf was
like thunder. The Blight's face was white and the little sister was
gripping my arm with both hands. A third horseman shot into view out of
the woods at tight angles, to stop them, and it seemed that the three
horses must crash together in a heap. With a moan the Blight buried her
face on my shoulder. She shivered when the muffled thud of body against
body and the splintering of wood rent the air; a chorus of shrieks
arose about her, and when she lifted her frightened face Marston, the
Discarded, was limp on the ground, his horse was staggering to his feet,
and the Wild Dog was galloping past her, his helmet gleaming, his eyes
ablaze, his teeth set, the handle of his broken spear clinched in his
right hand, and blood streaming down the shoulder of the black horse.
She heard the shots that were sent after him, she heard him plunge into
the river, and then she saw and heard no more.