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walk, men turned darkly aside lest they should be contaminated by v presence tor they said that surcly my heart was cvil to seek alter a bride from o strange land, and to thus bring desolation upon them. They darcd at last to storm the gates of my palace, and to demand that Hestra should be dehivered unto them, that from the lofty rock she might be cast down into the plain below.,
L Distened mosullen silence to the Dlows of ther weapons as they smote heavily upon the gates of bronze, and T heard in disdain the wild eries with which they summoned me forth to answer their demand. Then Hestra, learning the dreadful truth, begged that T would yicld her unto them lest evil might befall me, for she loved Darak Detter than her life. Not for a moment did | hearken unto her, for well T knew that mine cnemy had mspired the frenzied throng with his ma- lictous words that the fair palace and Its treasures might be his.
“When the shel termg night drew dark her mantle round the city, | stole away from the palace with my bride and, crossing the plam over which ve have scen me hunted like a beast. I traversed this MouNtain pass, even whercon our fect have recently trod- den. High above the spot where now we rest 1 knew that deep m the moun- tamn side was a cave, and thither T bore the princess and placed her salely within it But our theht was soon dis- covered, and up the narrow way the o
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cnemy swooped, like the serecaming vuitures that scent their prey from afar.
"1 drew my shining blade and, one man agiinst a host, prepared to hold the pass. On they came, even as to-day ye saw them, and rmsed a derisive laugh when 1 stood forth, the sole barrier between them and the bride whom the cowards yearned to slay, Vet I was undaunted ; for, coming from the cave, behind me stood Hestra, and to fall hghting for her would leave no seal of shame upon my bhrow.,
“ Beneath the stars that shone on the snow- clad peak above [ stood, and the ringing clash ol steel against steel re-echoed from
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