Part 26 (2/2)
”True, Captain We are from her Majesty, and know that the token has been delivered into your keeping here to-night You have co for you, but too few, such is the Queen's opinion, and she bid us join your coement,” Ellerey answered ”My comrades are pickedof you”
”It's a poor welcome, Captain, but it must serve I have other news for you which may increase our value”
”You run on too fast,at this eleventh hour ill fits with my precaution”
”We have horses without the city, Captain; we are not ill conditioned for the enterprise”
”You may pass muster for a man What is your nah to strike a good blow on occasion, but I know naught of your courage And your coht and let osie, if it please you, Captain”
He stepped out of the shadow as he spoke, and with his arms folded across his breast, threw back his head defiantly, as though such inspection were little to his taste He was a lad in figure and in voice His face was innocent of even the down of dawning manhood His li for stern endurance His dress was sireen in color, and he wore a cap of green dran to his brows
”You're a good-looking boy enough,” laughed Ellerey, ”but Heaven forgive her Majesty Does she think I am bent on some summer picnic that she sends a child to bear osie is a good scout, and I warrant is likely to prove useful,” said Anton
”For cooking and bed maybe We shall have little opportunity for either one or the other,” [illustration: ”YOU WILL PARDON ME COUNTESS!”]
Blank Page ”Nor should I do either of them except of my oill,”
said the lad
”A stroke or two of the ould make you tell a different tale,”
said Ellerey; ”and you may thank your lucky fortune that I will not take you, for the ould certainly follow”
”I have heard of Captain Ellerey,” said the boy, ”but never that he was a bully”
Ellerey looked at him quizzically
”Well, lad, I did not e, and you'll grow into a stout h work some day In this expedition I cannot use you”
”I can use a sword and am a master of fence, and the sword is not the only weapon which victory hangs upon”
”Peace, Grigosie; I will give the Captain an excellent reason for taking you”
”Peace, yourself, Anton Am I to be taken out of charity? Set me to prove my worth, Captain”
”I have no ti up his cloak ”Anton may come since we are few, but---”
”There is a fly on the wall, Captain”
”Well, what of it? You are a strange lad”
”It is gone, I warrant; but in case I have missed--darkness”
Two revolver shots cracked in quick succession as he spoke, and the room was in darkness Then the landlord rushed in