Part 37 (1/2)

Then one fellow suddenly picked up a corpse, and holding it before him as a shi+eld, dashed forith a shout

”Let him come,” whispered Ellerey ”Shoot at those who follow”

The man rushed to the wall until the dead body struck the stonework

Success for a h which the bullets came, and he cheered his comrades on They came, but only to have their leader fall back into their arh the slit Ellerey had driven his sith all his strength, piercing the living through the dead It had been an ugly rush, but for the present it was the last

”They'll try soain,” said Stefan

”Is there any other way?” Grigosie asked

”For mountaineers there may be These fellows can walk in places where we should never venture and only expect to find flies”

From the opposite mountain a desultory fire was maintained upon the plateau, which could only do harm if the defenders were careless For the rest of the day the brigands held aloof, standing or sitting in parties in the pass and watching the castle Vasilici strode froroup to another, but no moveht, and at dawn, in spite of Stefan's forecast, another attack was ate It was as unsuccessful as the first, nor was it made with such determination The obedience to orders was only half-hearted

Later in the day it beca held The murmur of the men's voices reached the plateau, but no words could be distinguished An oath froain, but that was all Some persuasion was apparently pressed upon the chief which he jeered and laughed at, but there was a shaking of heads when he pointed to the zig-zag way His folloere not inclined to try that road to victory again They had had their surfeit of it Vasilici was quick-witted enough to see that he e he turned first to one and then to another as they spoke Presently one speaker seerih the whole assembly, men turned to one another and nodded their satisfaction

Some definite conclusion had been arrived at

”They see at us,” said Stefan

”Is there another way?” asked Grigosie, repeating the same question he had asked before No one answered hi the nowmass below, little interest in his eyes His alertness had departed

Vasilici had disappeared into some pathway at the foot of the opposite slope, and then the crowd fell aside for onealone, took off his neckcloth and waved it toward the plateau

”A parley, Captain Shall I answer?” said Stefan; and then, having permission, he shouted: ”Hallo!”

”I would speak with your Captain,” came the answer

”I'm a mouthpiece, comrade, same as you are Speak on”

”I am commanded to offer you your lives and freedom on one condition”

”And the condition?” Stefan shouted, prompted by Ellerey ”You are free to leave the pass unmolested if you will deliver up the youth who is of your coan, without any pro

”Word it as you will,” said Ellerey, ”the coarser the better, perhaps, for such a devilish suggestion”

”Wait!” exclaiosie ”Ask for ti as that?” growled Stefan

”We gain ti to Ellerey ”Say you will consider the suggestion and answer theain it?”

”My gorge revolts against their even fancying that we should consider such a thing,” said Stefan

”Coosie ”In war and love everything is fair”