A Modem Knight-Errant

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 59, Issue 32, 10 March 1930, Page 11

A Modem Knight-Errant

By ROLAND PERTWEE

\ COPYEIOHr. pubijlshud by spegiau aeeangement

g t, Anthor oi "Out to Win," "Eivers to Cross,** "The Eagle arid the Wfen," eto., etOi g ^ A PowerfuJ Story of RevoJution and Romance ^

CHAPTER XXIX. ^RAWLING TOWARDS THE J3ARN ^ out of the dust which still hung like a pall over the ruins of PJevi came a man who squirirted on knees and elbows, pausing every few yards to recruit his strength. lt was Savarin, but not the Savarin of three hours before. His uniform was smothered with dust and torn in a dozen p'ieces. A black bruise spread across his brow and blood trickled from a wound in his throat. His left arm was broken at the wrist. The bodily anguish he suffered would have clouded the minds of most men, but Savarin had a debt to wipe out against liimseJf. Death was very near, but "before its hands -fastened upon him oue set purpose should be fulfilled. He would reach the barn. On and on he crawled.- He was less than 70 yards away when a shaft of Iight from the falling sun illumined his fhce. Nikko Cheyne fiung open the doors qf the barn and raced down hill, catchmg the hroken man in his arms. The huge Arnaut, flat on his face in some hushes not twenty yards away, recognised the Englishman. "Savarin, Savarin, old man," cried Nikko. With an effort Savarin forced his mmd back to consciousness. "You Cheyne." he whispered. "You. Did my best but failed. Tell her — did m.y best." "But the Prince, man?" "They — he — a fellow called Serge — one of Poseani's hodyguard. It was because of that they rose — "What happened?" "The Prince struck Foscani with his xrmnacled hands, so that blood rau from his — smiling mouth. And then — that Arnaut. A knife— slit like a herring. Dear Godl I couldn't preyent it. — I — I — I — " Savarin' s head pitched forward on to his breast. "Dead?" A cry of bitterness broke from Nikko's throat. He had failed "Savarin, we must start at once. If we ride hard we might reach the half-way liouse in time to meet her there. _ The horses are in the barn If I tied you to the saddle could you ride?" Silently Serge wormed his way back into the deeper shelter of the trees, then ri^ing darted, from trunk to trunk like a ghost. Savarin' s ""voice murmured : "No. Done. Sword point — throat. Dying. Help Elcie." "Yes, yes," Nikko nodded. I promise, but I can't leave you here." His back was to the barn but a fljtting shadow passed. across the grass. Nikko turned but saw nothing. The doors of the hara were wide open. "I can't leave you to die. What was that?" ' ❖ * * AJINGLE OE BITS and thunder of hoofs. Nikko sprang- to his feet as through the open doors burst a horse and rider Ihe Arnaunt rode low~ in the saddle, liis great blunt face appearing just ahove . the horse's ears. In his right ,-hand he held a revolver, Clapping in liia ieels he put his mount to a gallop for the spot for where Nikko stood. "Karaaa," barked the pistol, and again "karaaa." Nikko lept sideways and. ducked ; the first hullet scorched his neck. The second cut a clean groove in Savarin's skull. The murderer of Prince Carelon galloped on, wheeling to the right where the road was lost in the Forest. Savarin was dead.. Nikko went up the hill in great bounds. There was only one thought in his mind nqw, to avenge the murder of Bettany's father. After that let the fates decide. At least he would go to her with oue deed well done. He vaulted into the saddle and urged his horse down the slope and into the forest road at breakneck speed. v HPHE ROAD RAN STRAIGHT 'as a • chalk line across a board with scrub and bush and tangled trees on either hand. That his quarry would keep to the road he had litt'Je douibt. It Avould he a straight race of fifteen miles with no side turning left or right until the leech-gatberer's hut. A mxle ahead through,^, blue haze of evening travelled a ppff of dust. The Arnaut was riding at a killing pace that could not last the distance. Nikko knew that his mount was the better of the two and he had the advantage of riding at least three stone lighter. The little Russian horses were of a hardy breed who, given a fair chance, would stay interminably. But the man in front was not offering fair chances, he was riding all out. With the deadiy earnest to kill swiftly, Nikko persuaded himself to take the first stages easily and conserVe something for the last. He checked the gallop to a twelve-m3e an hour trot, eased his sword in its scabbard and released the strap of his holster. And so for severn miles. Night falls swiftly in a forest lying in the shadow of mountains. jj; 'TU3R0IJGH A RIFT in the branches like a filanient of silver shonc a -sickle moon. Nikko broke afresh into a canter. ' he_ little horse stretched joyously to his task. Three-quarters of the distance had been covered when Nikko drew rein, and listened. Nearer than he dared, to hope came the sound of hoofs. ' We've gained," he said to himself. and spurred on relentlessly. ,, Nikko scarcely noticed how far orj how fast he rode until a few hundred yards ahead flashed significantly the' upfiung sparks of horse's shoes. strik-' mg against road metal. Nikko jerked out his pistol and fired. The nickle hullet snapped savagelv by the Arnaut's ear, struck a rock far on and whined harmlessly over the j trees. And then the real race began. Nikko did not fire another shot. Crouched in the saddle_ head down. hands low, heels tucked in he urged his horse to the final efrort. He could see nothing hut he could smell the hot sweat of the horse in front. , Suddenly^ the darkness fell away. and; they were in the starlit open with the leech-gather's pond glearning evilly by the side of the road. Serge brought his hor§e up on all fours, swung round in the saddle and fired. Nikko pivotted in a sharp circle and the ball flew wide. ^ A GAIN THE PISTOL cracked, a jag" of flame leapt from an outstretched arm. There was a flash of steel as Nikko's heavy police sabre swept'downard. j The arm, with" the smokinr* - ' » j gripped its fingers, fell nselessly to the roadside, .With his remaining

hand, Serge felt in the air for the, arm that was no longer there. Nikko lunged, and the huge man, impaled upon the sword like an insect on a pin, slithered backward out of th9 saddle arid rolletl into the pond. A- splash,, a white face gleaming phosphorescently, and, the most ghastly of all, a torpid oiiy wave, a purposeful ripple, that moved towards it. "There's thou=apd^ of H>em i" the" — thousands and thousands," the old leecli-gatherer and boasted. Scream after scream pierced the quiet of the night. The parasities were at work, their chitinous jaws sinking into the soft flesh of Serge's throat. Nikko Cheyne fired twice. Slowly the face sank, and only the hilt of an avenging sword showed ahove the surface of the water. OHAPTER XXX. A S THE CURFEW OF DJEVO rang its warning, four horsemen in the uniform of ■ the Mounted Police rode through the city gates. By the side of the last rider trotted a saddled horse. The uniform was passport in itself, and the sentiy stood aside to let them go by. "We shall be passing this way in an hour," Raoul 'called, and likely shall be riding fast on work of importance. .Stand by ready to open the gate and maybe grab a bottle oi wine." "Good as done!" the sentry gave answer. The cavalcade clattered on up the street, wlieeled at a side-turning, crossed the bridge, and drew reign before Natalie's prison. Tbe sentry on . duty at tbe gate stepped up rifle at the ready. "Who's bere?" he demanded. "Reinforcements, Brother," Raoul answered, and leapt lightly from his horse, the otliers following suit. "I know of no reinforcements." "Nor we — till half-an-hour ago. 1 have written orders." . "Show them." "I'll show them to the officer in charge. Here. Pierre, hold the horses while we three enter." Then to the doubtful sentry: "They want no repetition of yesterdav's aifair, and are taking no chances." Raoul, Jean and Max Gourod mounted the steps of the house, pushed open the door, and entered. $1 n5 "OIERRE ERESSIN, the horses' reins looped over his left arm. inquired : "Were you busy at yesterday's shooting?" "Busy! Three I shot — two rather — for one was a woman." "Hold these reins,, comrade, while I light a cigarette." Pierre drew a life-preserver from his. pocket and smote. 'Uncf •!" sobbed the sentry. Pierre Kressin slung the body over his shoulder, and entering the gate, dropped it between a bush of tamarisks and the wall. He then returned, threw the horses' reins over a spike of the railings, and shouldering the rifle, marched to and fro before the bouse in a soldierly fashion. Guided by the volces,' Raoul Jean and Max opened a door at the fear of tbe bouse and stepped inside. At a cireular table .a ntpnber of men . were playing dice. The stakes were tobacco and cigarettes, for with the withdrawl of the currency there was no money to play for. (To be Continued.)