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Tpublicof ©IT Pimii§s®iial©ffii^l ., This romance of the lost king dom Drussenland is one of the most fascinating tales that has appeared since the days when Rider Haggard enthralled the with "She" and "King Solomon's Mines." Read and you will follow a gallant hero of today into a realm where dwell strange people of the time of the crusades, a realm ruled by a beautiful princess, for whose love the Knight of the Silver Star battles with powerful enemies and participates in stirring ad ventures. CHAPTER I. V'stretchine HE sun dropped behind the snow capped mountains to the westward as at the sum mlt of the road I came upon the village of Brayle. I shifted my knapsack from my shoulder and, leaning upon my staff, stood contemplating one of the most glorious panoramas my eyes had ever rested upon. Behind me to the north, away eastward and west ward, th great mountain range lifted its frowning tops to heaven, and to the south and southwest, from whence I had come, the world fell down to ward verdure and cultivation and lands watered by streams, which grew slowly and joined together into a riv er far away toward the horizon. As evening came rapidly over the -lower lands and a chill wind struck the mountain road I entered the vil lage and went tOAvard a long, low building which seemed likely to afford a resting place for the night Four men were sitting at rough table smoking and drinking. They were in eager if not an angry conversation, but stopped as I entered and looked at me in surprise. One of them seem ed delighted at my advent, for he cried out excitedly: "The proof! The proof! Look! Here is one of them!" Another man, whom I rightly took be the proprietor of the establish nt, growled savagely at him to be silent and then rose and saluted me. "You are a traveler, just an ordinary traveler?" "Yes oh, yes," I answered. There was something in his tone •which had the effect of taking the conceit out of one. I have never con sidered myself quite an ordinary trav eler. "You see, Mustapha!" he said in tri umph. The man addressed looked at me fix edly, but did not speak. He had sprung excitedly from his seat at my en trance. "I want to stay here tonight," I went on. "Tomorrow I may go farther, or the next day, or it may be next week It all depends what I find to interest me. There is a fine waterfall near Brayle, I have heard." "Is it only for this you have come?" asked Mustapha, with some contempt. "Yes," I answered, throwing down my knapsack and spreading out my hands to the blaze. "What else should I have come for?" The disappointment in the man's facr was quite comical, and his companions burst out laughing. "Take no notice of what he says," laughed the landlord. "Mustapha is a t* JL AvSeamer. Hes ^sjp is^ffoi sees armies along the bimtai top when others see only snow. He hears the ring of steel in every tinkling goat bell and the sliout of war in the bark of every dog. A wonderful dreamer is Mustapha." "I said nothing of armies I said armed men," the dreamer returned sullenly. "I am not armed," I observed. "Many of the men I have seen are not armed," he returned, "but they are no ordinary travelers. They all go the same way—yonder." His attitude was unconsciously dra matic as he stretched out his arm, pointing toward the mountains to the north. "Where is yonder?" I asked, more for the sake of saying something than because I wanted to know. "I only know the legend which every body knows and which everybody laughs at," but I am wiser than every body, because I don't laugh." A roar of merriment greeted this 1 assertion. I could not help joining I In it. K, "Let me eat first, and then we'll -Wnave the story. The story will wait. and my hunger is too ripe to keep." Of necessity in this history I must talk of myself. I am the hero of it, and he's a poor hero indeed who isn't worth talking about. I was a wan derer by inclination, not of necessity, •nd, although not actually seeking ad Venture, I was not unwilling to enjoy some mild form of enterprise should such come my way, bnt I little thought of the strange experiences which lay before me. Few people even if they are interested will believe the story and will say of me. a* was said of Mustapha, "He is a stnpid dreamer." To these I can honestly confess that I should sometimes doubt the history TMtt KMGHT TH ILVE1 STAUt Copyright, 1907, by R. F. Fenno & Co. myself had I not always before me one incontestable proof of the truth of it. For my personal appearance I stand over six feet, am broad shoul dered and athletic, have fair hair and am clean shaven, and I believe there are less well favored men in the world than myself. Brayle lies, if indeed there is still a village there, at the foot of one of the southern spurs of the great Caucasian range. It is an out of the way place which probably few tourists have dis covered. It is enough to say that, while the slopes of the western range are clad in verdure, the central range, as it may be called, is arid, rocky and desolate. Of comparatively uniform height, the mountain tops rise majes tically into the region of perpetual snow. There are, practically speak ing, no passes, only here and there a goat track, dizzy enough to contem plate, of a mountaineer's zigzag path which leads nowhere in particular, and in the neighborhood of Brayle sheer rock rises perpendicularly from the mountain road which runs through the village. So to my story. Supper finished and a brier pipe set going, I suggested another log on the fire, more wine—it was very thin wine and harmless—and Mustapha's tale. The man had drunk at my expense or I do not think he would have told the legend "It's little I know," he said. "Every one knows nearly as much, only they do not believe. Long ago, long before Brayle existed, somewhere near here there was a pass from this side of tlio mountains to a country beyond. There was constant intercourse between the people on this side of the mountains and that country, whose inhabitants, though different, were friendly. The men were strong and warlike and the women more than beautiful, far supe rior to ours, it is said, and the wealth of the country was enormous. In the king's treasury were stored gold and silver and precious stones, greater wealth than man could name. It was a pleasant country, too, warm and sun ny, for the great mountains Shut it in and sheltered it. They were a strong people and therefore dwelt in safety, a contented people and therefore happy. A day came when the pass was no more. It was a year of fierce storms, such as had not been known until that time nor have been since. Mountains split asunder and changed their shapes, and when the storms Avere over the pass Avas gone. The mountain walls of it had split and fallen in, shutting that fair land out of the world forever." "The legend improves with every telling," said the landlord. "And it's all a lie," said one of the other men contemptuously. "I'\*e been lost a day and a night upon the moun tains and know every inch of them that is to be known. It's all a tale. Mustapha is a stupid dreamer." Mustapha watched me. My criticism was the only one he cared about His companions' jeers be had heard often enough before. "I thought it all a tale once," he said when I made no comment. "I know better now. There was until lately a wise woman in Brayle, and she told me that, though the pass was destroy ed, there remained a secret entrance to this fair country through the moun tains and that she had seen armed men going there. I did not believe it, and I laughed, but now I laugh no more. I have seen these strange men more than once." "Where?" I asked. "On the road you will take tomorrow if you travel to the east I will show you the place." "Yery well you shall show me to morrow. We will start early, Mus tapha," I said as I prepared to go to rest for the night "I shall wake at dawn," he answer ed. "And you will return?" asked the landlord. "We shall be back before sunset, ready for an excellent supper," I an swered. Back before sunset! I .little knew how many sunsets would sink into night before I saw Brayle again. It was a brilliant but cold morning ]&y P@irsy when we entered the new country. On the way 1 chatted with Mustapha. Frequently I asked him about various places of which he had told me. I questioned him about the legend and of the strange men he bad seen. He showed me the fall which he had pre viously described, where he had hid and where he had had adventures. We came to rough places, sharp turns and yawning declivities. Sometimes I had to crawl, and often I grew dizzy and sick. We reached Avhat looked like a platform. Suddenly I beard Mustapha shriek. lie tried to retrace his steps and failed. In trying to make my own footing secure I fell forward. I be gan sliding downAvard. To the left there was a straight, sharply defined black line'and nothing beyond it, and there was the sound of rushing water. I succeeded in keeping myself from being drawn to the left, but I accel erated my speed. The way was hard and smooth, and I dashed down, going faster than the rolling mass before me. It was on a lower level than I was, and I got abreast of it as it came to the straight black line. Then—good God, it was horrible! As I passed it upon my straight course the ball gave a flnltl bound and shot out over the black line into space, no longer the ball, "but a man, arms and legs wide spread. "Mustapha!"' I cried, and my cry rang out and echoed away into the silence of the night but there was no answer. A moment later I plunged into loose snow and came to rest Half stunned, I lay quite still for awhile, and then I picked myself up, wondering if there were any help for Mustapba. The sudden red glare of a torch flared up and dazzled me. I saw the gleam of it flash pointedly to my breast along a steel blade, and then a stentorian voice rang out: "In the king's name, halt!" Halt! It never occurred to me to do anything else. I was dazed and hard ly able to stand. The challenge had "IN THB KINO'S NAME, HAITI" brought others upon the scene, and half a dozen torches danced fiercely before my eyes. The sword was still pointed toward my breast and I con cluded that in coolness lay my only chance. "I am unarmed," I said. "We don't cut courtesy so fine as that in this country—the blow first and the pardon begging afterward." He laughed as he lowered bis sword. "Who are you, and how the devil did you get here?" "Just slid," I answered. "A few mo ments ago I was on the mountains somewhere behind me." "And, by St. Patrick, you're Eng lish, with -a touch of Irish blood in you for choice." "Pure English." "Faith, and I'm sorry for that. You are plucky enough to be an Irishman." I Avas too beAAildered to be surprised at so strange a meeting. My only clear thought Avas that an Irishman with a drawn sword in a country known only in legend was probably a very different person from an ordinary Irishman on College Green. It would be wise to let him lead the conversa tion. "You're my prisoner," he said. "Will yon give me your word not to attempt to escape?" "Certainly." "My name is Dennis O'Ryan, Cap tain Dennis O'Ryan," he said, motion Ing me to follow him. "A few moments ago had a com rade. Captain O'Ryan. As we came down from the mountains he lost con trol of himself and was carried away yonder. I should like to look for him." *WvJ» J* "You'll see him in the morning if your eyesight is good. He won't move. Waa he a friend?" "Yes, a new acquaintance, but dan ger made us friends." "Well, Mr." "Verrall," I said. ••Well, Mr. Verrall, he's Just a corpse now and not a good specimen of a corpse either. You will understand why tomorrow." We went through a narrow cutting In the solid rock, the torches casting weird and fantastic shadows about us, and presently came to a natural cav ern, high pitched and of considerable size. A fire was burning in the cen ter, the smoke, after thickening the atmosphere, finding its way out through* a cleft in the roof, and an iron pot was on the fire, a strong, meaty" smell coming from it, which, being hungry, I did not find unpleas ant The ground of the cave was of loose soil, and my companions threw them selves down round the fire. O'Ryan motioned me to do the same. It was the most primitive meal I had ever assisted at, but I have rarely enjoyed one so much. They were a wild looking crew, not excepting Captain O'Ryan. They were powerful men, big limbed, with shaggy dark hair and mustaches, not ill look ing and rather picturesque than other wise. They wore somewhat tight neth er garments and a rough, easy fitting leather shiit reaching nearly to the knees, but cut up at the thighs to give perfect freedom to the legs. Over this they wore a coat of mail, a compromise between plale and chain armor, and long boots of stiff hide, into the heels of which ^as fixed a spike about half an inch long. A low steel helmet fit ting close on to the head completed their attire. For arms each man car ried a long serviceable looking sword, which-hung from a broad belt fastened loosely round the waist Except that his armor was brighter and that he had a short feather at the side of his helmet, Captain O'Ryan did not differ from his comrades. During the meal I was considerably surprised to find that I could under stand my companions' conversation. O'Ryan when speaking to me spoke in English, or, rather, Irish, Avith a brogue, especially when he got excited, which I shall make no attempt to re produce in these pages. When talking to his men he spoke in' their language. which was the most curious conglom eration I have CA er heard. It wa» ap parently made up of several tongues, with a general groundwork of Norman French. English, German and Italian were represented, and, although there were words here and there which I could attach no meaning to, being a good linguist, I could understand most of what Avas bald, and if at first I was not so easily understood I soon man aged to talk pretty freely. The meal ended, O'Ryan kicked the fire into a blaze. "The history of your strange coming among us should be interesting," be said. CHAPTER II. TOLD him the simple truth, which I must confess sounded very much like a magnificent lie. O'Ryan looked surprised, and his companions whispered among themselves when I had finished. "1*11 take my oath I didn't come that way," the captain said. "Which Avay. then?" I asked. "I'd like to know. We certainly started up a mountain path, but be fore we had gone far they blindfolded us, and then we went doAvn, where I can't say, but it was somewhere near to roaring water." "And bow long have you been here?" *T don't know. Time is not of much consequence in this country." "What did you come for?" "Money," was his laconic answer. "There must be a way out," I said. "There ought to be since you found a way in. We'll talk of it toniorroAv. Rest now, for we start early." It was early morning when O'Ryan woke me. "Come and look for your friend," he said. I felt refreshed, but terribly stiff and bruised Sunlight was upon the mountain tops, the shadows of light, fleecy clouds crossing them swiftly. Before the cav ern ran a broad, hard road, rough and SUOAV caked, descending somewhat sharply to the right ascending grad ually to the left, and directly opposite was the way I had come last night. I stood looking at it in amazement. A glacier stretched up to the mountain opposite, a portion of it ending at the roadway against which the winds had piled loose snow, luckily for me, but part of it had cracked and sunk, turn ing to run beside the road for a few yards and then ending abruptly in what last night had appeared to me as a black line. Here the glacier was broken off, its support a straight Avail of rock going down sheer for at least 500 feet At the base roared a tor rent A A hich burst from the rock and lashed itself into foam OAer its rocky bed. "If jour comrade wasn't dead be fore he went over that, he A\as dead before he got to the bottom of it" said O'Ryan. I looked down at the water tumbling among the rocks and saAV a little black mass lying there motionless, saA-e for the motion the swirling water gave it It Avas impossible to say what it was, but I think it must have been Mustapha, for two spots sudden ly rose from it, groAvIng larger as they mdunted toward us with heavy flight "Vultures!" said my companion. Poor Mustapha! He had expected so much of tomorrow. God rest his soul! He had indeed found a new country. It was srJII early when we started upon our Journey. Two men were sent •MP fll^J^TW^^W^M^W^ on in front and told to keep a sharp lookout the others fell to the rear, and O'Ryan and I rode alone. "What am I to expect at the end of this Journey?" I asked presently. "Faith, that's more than 1 can tell It's every man for himself here, and you'll find your life pretty much what you make It" "That sounds promising." "Oh, there's plenty of promise. It's some of the fulfillment I'm waiting for It's all very well to live back In the middle ages and feel like the hero of a boys' story book, but It Avants pay ing for." "Then the legend is true, or partly true?" I said. "I don't know anything about the legend or how these people came here. Anyway, here they are and engaged in as pretty a piece of Avar as poor old Ireland has ever suffered from. There are two factions in the country, the king's party and the rebels, who are headed by a relation of his—Princess Daria. Those who fight for the prin cess fight chiefly for love of her, A It was well that I should know how to speak best for myself. To look after No. 1 seemed to be the creed of the country. "I shall tell the truth," he continued "There is no lie to equal it. I'm glad you're a big, healthy looking fellow. We don't take much notice of weak lings. As long as. a man has a mighty arm the size of his brain doesn't mat ter." The mountains on either side of us narrowed as we went 5u until we were presently passing through a de file that a feAv resolute men could have held against an army. I noticed that O'Ryan quickened his pace and became silent for a time. The defile came to an end suddenly, and we came out on to a broad road which swept round the slopes of the lower hills. An exclamation of aston ishment and admiration burst from m.v lips. AAvay from the road the hills, green clad and wooded, undulated to le\el country, which stretched awaj for miles. Green pastures, arable land, clusters of rough stone dwellings here and there, a river glinting in the sun light and woody hollows made as fair a landscape as one could wish to see. Cattle Avere feeding beloAv us, and I saw some women uioAing about the dwellings at the foot of the hill. "Your first real glimpse of Drussen land." said O'Rjan. "Is that IIOAV you call the country?" "I didn't christen it, but that's the name of it" "It Is very beautiful," I said, "and doesn't look as if it were the seat of war." "Things have beeu rather quiet late ly, probably because there's a storm brewing. You see those Avornen? Wo men do most of the Avork just UOAV be cause all the men are under arras on one side or the other." "And are unprotected women safe in such times?" "Well, I won't go quite so far as to say that, but there is a rough sort of gallantry among us that compares fair ly well with that of civilized nations when war is the order of the day." "The legend says the women are beautiful." "And, by St. Patrick, the legend's right so far! If I ever get back to Ire laud there'll be moments when I shall wish myself here again, though the finest pair of eyes in the old country were looking at me. The Avomen are all right and, luckily for most of us. cling to the man who can hold his own against other men." 'Is there no marriage?" 'Oh, yes, we get married after the law of the country, but it's not very binding here, so I suppose most of us Avill pose as bachelors when we get away, if we ever do. There's no breach of promise and there's no di vorce, and if two men quarrel they just go to a quiet spot and hack away at each otlver until the affair is set tied. The one who comes back takes possession of the lady or the money or whatever they have been fighting about." "Primitive," I said. "I Judge, can tain, that you are comfortably set tied?" "Trust a son of the house of Michael O'Ryan of County Kerry for that. I've had to fight about her twice, and each time I've crawled home again. Pos session Is something—nine points of the law, as they say, but the tenth point is always In favor of the man who desires your property and han- •&«& A hich fs all A'ery well in its way, but not attractive to the adventurer AVIIO hopes some day to go home and enjoy him self Tho kiiisr, on the other hand pays his soldiers, and, not having enough men in the country to fight his cause, be hns got in a few foreign ers to help them. I'm one of the for eigners. We have all been brought in secretly, and not a man jack of us knoAAS his Avay out." "Does the king pay well?" "I think be Avould if he could, but his lack of the necessary troubles me," O'Ryan answered. "Then IIOAV does he manage?" "Much as they do at home—makes promises and pays for the accommo dations. That's not a new trick. It was an old fashioned one in the days of ancient Babylon. The king, as a matter of fact, expects to find a treas ure. We were looking for signs of it when you came I expect the treasure is Avhere the legendary part of the story comes in "You found nothing of it?" "Not a cent. Still, my undertaking the mission means promotion when I return." "And with a prisoner too "I would sooner have had a bit of the treasure to take back." he an swered bluntly. "I don't deny that I shall try to make something for my self out of bringing you back." "IIOAV Avill you explain my coming?" I asked. dies a sword aa well at or perhaps bet.•$ ter than you do." MLt ,tvHi iV-\'3* "Swords! Have you no firearms W,ifM this country?" $ "There may be a stray revolver or ^M two brought in by some of the foreign ers, but they're not much use without! *.y| ammunition, and that's not to be bad In Drussenland." At a turn of the road I saw again the snow clad peak which I had seen so often yesterday, looking far grand er noAv than it did from the moun tains. It rose almost abruptly from the IOAV hills. I mentioned to my com panion how I had been struck with it yesterday. "It is called Khrym, which means the Avhite knight, and it is supposed to rule the destinies of the Drussen landcrs," he said. "They worship it?" "Not exactly, but it is a symbol of everything that is good and gfcat The PRINCESS DABIA. religion is as curious a jumble as the language. I wonder how far our ad vance guard is ahead? I thought we should have overtaken them by this time." "Do you expect to be attacked?" I asked. "No, but we don't want to be too far apart. We are in the rebels' part of the country." [TO BE CONTINUED.! GREBE & EMMERICH PLUMBERS STEAM AND [HOT WATER HEATING GAS FITTING. We are prepared to do all kinds of plumbing in a first-class manner Do not fail to call upon us when plumb ers' services are required. Minn, and Center Sts. Phone 281 New Ulm M. A. BINGHAM. W. BinghamA. BroMsBINGHA DBALBHSIN Coal Grain. 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