The Outlaw of Torn

antagenet kings of England. Later it was forgotten. I happened to dig it up by accident. The accident bein

ng-partially since it is a bit of hitherto unrecorded history, but principally from the fact that it records the st

interested me was the unique character about whom the tale revol

ast to west; and reached across the channel and shook France. It started, directly, in the London palace of Henry III,

ut on this June day in the year of our Lord 1243, Henry so forgot himself as to very unj

on the victim of his wrath, as he did that day, he was very imposing. A power in England, second only to the King himse

g satisfaction for such a gross insult. That you take advantage of your kingship to say what you w

l words fell from the lips of a subject, addressed to his king. They were horri

t suddenly recollecting the power which he represented, he thought better of wha

the King left the apartment followed by his gentlemen, all of whom had drawn away from the Earl of Leicester when it became apparent that the royal displeasure

and plumed hat to take the foils with De Fulm, his eyes alighted on the master of fence, Sir Jules de Vac, who was advancing with the King's foil and helmet. H

o permit himself to be overcome by aught but superior skill,

t had light from three sides. In charge of it was the lean, grizzled, leather-skinned Sir Jules de Vac, and it was he whom Henry comman

e Montfort, and it followed that De Vac was nearly surprised into a

o the wild acclaim of his audience. For this fell purpose he had backed the astounded De Vac twice around the hall when, with a clever feint, and backward step, the master of f

man in England-for that surely was no disgrace-to Henry it seemed prophetic of the outcome of a future struggle when he should stand face to face with the real De Montfort; and then, seeing in De Vac only the cre

stinging blow across the face, and spat upon him. T

all Englishmen. The dead King John, though hated by all others, he had loved, but with the dead K

ned to thrust and parry and cut as only De Vac could teach the art, and he had been as conscientious

t upon him such an insult as mi

wing down his foil, he stood erect and rigid as a marble statue before hi

ternative save death by his own hand; for a king may not fight with a lesser mo

o would die for a dog? No, De Vac would find other means of satisfying his wounded pride. He would revel in revenge against this man for whom he felt no loyalty. If possible, h

atter's death, he could easily claim the title of his sire. How he had left France and entered the service of John of England is not of this story. All the bearing that the