Part 56 (1/2)
”The strea,”
said Otter ”Doubtless this day's sun has ht not have been able to travel this road”
”Very likely,” answered Leonard ”I told you that our luck had turned at last”
Twenty minutesbetween the blocks of ice, found themselves upon the mountain side But, as it chanced, the face of the moon was hidden by clouds, which is often the case in this country at the beginning of the spring season, for whereas in winter the days are al and summer these atmospheric conditions are frequently reversed So dark was it indeed, that it proved impossible to attempt the ascent of the mountain until the day broke, since to do so would be to run the risk of losing the its numerous clefts and precipices
After a minute's hasty discussion they set to work to fill up the mouth of the tunnel, or rather the cracks between the blocks of ice that already encumbered it, with such ravel, and a few large stones which they were fortunate enough to find in the immediate vicinity, for the darkness rendered it impossible to search for these at a distance While they were thus engaged they heard the voices of priests speaking on the further side of their somewhat inefficient barrier, and worked harder than ever, thinking that the moment of attack had co died away
”Nohere have they gone?” said Leonard--”to climb the cliff by another path and cut us off?”
”I think not, Deliverer,” answered Olfan, ”for I know of no such path
I think that they have gone to bring heavy beams by means of which they will batter down the ice wall”
”Still there is such a path, King,” said one of the captains, ”for Ifor snoers to bring to her whom I courted in those days”
”Can you find it now, friend?” asked Olfan eagerly
”I do not forget a road that I have trod,” said the captain, ”but it is one not easy to follow”
”See now, Shepherdess,” said Olfan after thinking awhile, ”shall we take this uide and return down the cliff to the city, for there, unless fate is against us, we ht out this battle with the priests”
”No, no,” answered Juanna alo back to that dreadful place to be o if you will, Olfan, and leave us to take our chance”
”That I cannot do, Queen, for I am sworn to a certain service,” he said proudly ”But hearken, my friend; follow this path of which you speak, if you can do so in the darkness, and find help Then return swiftly to this spot where I and your two comrades will hold the priests at bay
Perchance you will not find us living, but this I charge you, if we are dead give it out that the Gods have left the land because they were so evilly dealt with, and rouse up the people to fall upon the priests and make an end of them once and for ever, for thus only shall they win peace and safety”
Making no reply, the man shook Olfan and the other two captains by the hand, saluted Juanna, and vanished into the darkness Then they all sat down in front of the lad were they of the goat-skin cloaks which had belonged to the priests, for as the night dreards the dawn, the cold becaed to rise and sta
”Leonard,” said Juanna, ”you do not knohat passed after Nam trapped you,” and she told him all the tale
When she had finished he rose and, taking Olfan by the hand, said: ”King, I thank you May fortune deal as ith you as you have dealt by me and mine!”
”Say no more, Deliverer,” answered Olfan hastily; ”I have but done h at times the path of duty is hard for a hed
Leonard sat down and was silent, but many a time both then and in after-days did he wonder at the nobleness of , which enabled him, under circumstances so cruel, to conquer his own passion and show hiether, that he ht him so much pain and now left hi at the in to blush red with the co of the dawn, and just then also they heard lis in their rude fortifications The priests, who no doubt had been delayed by the procuring of the ti-ra them up the steep incline of the tunnel, had returned, and in force A few more minutes and a succession of dull thuds on the further side of the ice wall told the little band of defenders that their enerows quickly, Deliverer,” said Olfan quietly; ”I think that now you in to ascend the mountain and take no harm”
”What shall we do with thisto Nam
”Kill him,” said Otter
”No, not yet awhile,” answered Olfan ”Take this,” and he handed Leonard the spear of the third captain, who had left it when he started down the ht encu with you at its point Should we be overpowered, you may buy your lives as the price of his But should we hold them back and you escape, then do with him what you will”