Part 24 (2/2)

'Ay,' said Nyleptha, with that quick hich distinguishes her

'Ay, my people, he has shattered the stone, and behold the prophecy is fulfilled, for a stranger king rules in Zu-Vendis Incubu, my lord, hath beat Sorais back, and I fear her no more, and to him who hath saved the Crown it shall surely be And thisher hand upon ht of yesterday, he rode with that old warrior who lies there, one hundred miles 'twixt sun set and rise to save me from the plots of cruel men Ay, and he has saved me, by a very little, and therefore because of the deeds that they have done--deeds of glory such as our history cannot show the like--therefore I say that the naaas, ay, and the name of Kara, my servant, who aided hiold above lorious for ever while the land endures I, the Queen, have said it'

This spirited speech was , and I said that after all we had only done our duty, as it is the fashi+on of both English to make an outcry about; at which they cheered still more, and then I was supported across the outer courtyard to ht be put to bed As I went, ht that lay there, his white head outstretched on the pave the yard; and I bade those who supported ood beast once ed away And as I looked, tohis head a little, whinnied faintly I could have shouted for joy to find that he was not dead, only unfortunately I had not a shout left in rooms were sent for and he was lifted up and wine poured down his throat, and in a fortnight he was as well and strong as ever, and is the pride and joy of all the people of Milosis, henever they see him, point him out to the little children as the 'horse which saved the White Queen's life'

Then I went on and got off to bed, and ashed and had etting it off, and no wonder, for on my left breast and side was a black bruise the size of a saucer

The next thing that I remember was the tramp of horsemen outside the palace wall, some ten hours later I raised myself and asked as the news, and they told e body of cavalry sent by Curtis to assist the Queen had arrived from the scene of the battle, which they had left two hours after sundown When they left, the wreck of Sorais'

army was in full retreat upon M'Arstuna, followed by all our effective cavalry Sir Henry was enca the remains of his worn-out forces on the site (such is the fortune of war) that Sorais had occupied the night before, and proposedheard this, I felt that I could die with a light heart, and then everything beca I saas the round disc of a sylass, behind which was Good

'How are you getting on, old chap?' said a voice frolass

'What are you doing here?' I asked faintly 'You ought to be at M'Arstuna--have you run away, or what?'

'M'Arstuna,' he replied cheerfully 'Ah, M'Arstuna fell last week--you've been unconscious for a fortnight, you see--with all the honours of war, you know--truh they had had the best of it; but for all that, weren't they glad to go

Israel ht in my life'

'And Sorais?' I asked

'Sorais--oh, Sorais is a prisoner; they gave her up, the scoundrels,' he added, with a change of tone--'sacrificed the Queen to save their skins, you see She is being brought up here, and I don't knoill happen to her, poor soul!' and he sighed

'Where is Curtis?' I asked

'He is with Nyleptha She rode out to rand to-do, I can tell you He is co to see you tomorrow; the doctors (for there is a ht that he had better not coht to iven me a look; but there, when a reat victory, he is apt to listen to the advice of doctors, and quite right too

Just then I heard a faup perceived Alphonse's enor away in the distance

'So you are here?' I said

'Mais oui, Monsieur; the war is now finished, my military instincts are satisfied, and I return to nurse Monsieur'

I laughed, or rather tried to; but whatever s as a warrior (and I fear that he did not corandfather in this particular, showing thereby how true is the saying that it is a bad thing to be overshadowed by soreat ancestral name), a better or kinder nurse never lived Poor Alphonse! I hope he will always think of me as kindly as I think of him

On the morrow I saw Curtis and Nyleptha with him, and he told aas and I galloped wildly away from the battle to save the life of the Queen It seely well, and showed great ability as a general Of course, however, our loss had been dreadfully heavy--indeed, I am afraid to say how many perished in the desperate battle I have described, but I know that the slaughter has appreciably affected the male population of the country He was very pleased to see me, dear fellow that he is, and thanked me with tears in his eyes for the little that I had been able to do I saw him, however, start violently when his eyes fell upon my face

As for Nyleptha, she was positively radiant now that 'her dear lord' had coly scar on his forehead I do not believe that she allowed all the fearful slaughter that had taken place to weigh ever so little in the balance against this one fact, or even to greatly di that it is the nature of loving woh the spectacles of her love, and little does she reck of the misery of the many if the happiness of the _one_ be assured That is human nature, which the Positivists tell us is just perfection; so no doubt it is all right

'And what art thou going to do with Sorais?' I asked her

Instantly her bright brow darkened to a frown