Danira

ira had vanished. He did not notice that George had climbed down from his bowlder and approached him, unt

ails

e regulation m

ully report--I couldn't hear anything

I did not particularly desire your presence

thing. If all Krivoscia had come up and made an end of us I don't think you would have even noticed i

arrogance of happiness which raised him far above all anxiety or thought of peril

respect and used the old familiar name. "Her

ortal danger? It is certainly unusual, but

act terrible in itself, and with a face better suite

Take heed, your reverence, some misfortune will happen! And if it does

them!

,'" George continued, pursuing the

George!" he cried, interrupting the young soldier, who was about to speak. "You know I submit to many liberties of speech from you where the matter concerns

this bewitched spring is a protection against murder, and if the enemy doesn't finish us, the confounded rock hanging in the air yonder will. It move

ht. Gloomy and threatening, like a gigantic shadow, the rock overhung the entrance of the ravine, and the shimmering moon-rays produced such an illusi

ne; even the fiercest bora can do nothing against this unyielding stone. At any rate this is our best position for def

d it entirely. A long time passed, then the bora lulled a few minutes, and now they distinctly heard, at no very

ely betrayed a trace of excitement. "Come here by my side, George! We'll keep together so long as we can hold out. T

is lieutenant's side, but could not help in this critical

and fighting, but you liked it too, Saint George! You always struck about with your sword and hewed down the dragon, so that it could only writhe. So help us fight, or rather fight with us, for we can never

even later than his soul's salvation; he wanted at leas

of the entrance a moment, though he heard the murmurin

shed, now it's time for the fighting, and I

k, which, it is true, merely afforded them the hope of an honorable death, for if it once c

s open and unguarded, and the

n the pauses of the storm, but no one appeared, no one crossed the

ainst the starry sky, appeared high up on the edge of the ravine, evidently trying to obtain a view of the bottom. Their weapons glittered in the

Gerald in a low tone. "Danira is right, the tradition will be

fectly resigned to our fate and ready to be murdered--of course, after we've killed half a dozen of the enemy--and now

caution; not a step beyond that rock! Whatever they try, whatever hap

icer was thinking of all the possibilities that might detai

e against this band of murderers. It would have been a pity about us both, Herr Lieutenant. I'm in no hurry to die yet. I thin

elight when he entered the fort alive and well. He finally came to the conclusion that an earthly meeting of this sort wo

cold, gray dawn, rested on the earth. The bora, too, had almost ceased. It only blew occasionally in violent gusts

ra knew her race and especially Marco Obrevic. She was well aware that he would not leave the track of his foe, though he would not dare to a

udest of all. He was standing in the midst of his companions, towering in height above them all, bu

was vainly trying

atens; he will not do it,

rco; the two men in the ravine canno

aled the secret to them--they know it, they must know it! No wile, no threat will induce them to come forth; they will not quit the spring. Sh

must submit," said one of the men, an old mountaineer w

onths I have sought him and he has ever escaped me. At last I have him in my grasp, and I will not withdraw my hand till it i

marked emphasis. "Back, Marco! Madman! You will bring mis

one?" sneered Obrevic. "Stay behind! I'll take the consequenc

lain the head of the tribe, they were all summoned to avenge the fallen man--first of all, his son. That was a thing imperative, inevitable, which according to their ideas of j

only the deed was important; how

uers. The Vila spring was mysteriously associated with all the legends of the country to which it belonged; to violate it was to bring misfortune upon land and people. Only a nature like that of Marco, who knew no law save his own will, could have attempted to r

od flow for the sake of an enemy, a stranger? Keep back, Marco, you don't know what yo

ot a man will follow you if you shed blood in this pl

that surrounded him. He knew only too well that his disheartened, diminished band followed him reluctantly to the combat in which he meant to deal the enemy one last, desperate blow; that the

herd lad who had been sent to carry Gerald the false message, who had served as guide, and then hurried t

ers are coming--twice your number--they are se

xpected news, but Marc

t; they think the village is occupi

thout asking a question. They are marchi

here? They ought to think he is in the vil

t there are twice our number. We cannot fight here, it wo

nd know who is the traitor. Speak, knave, was it you? Did you allow

p and was shaking him as if he wished to ver

till I saw the strangers enter Stephan Hersovac's hou

w, thoughtful tone. "She had disappe

tly. "The troops are in the village; the

ooding over some monstrous thought. The instinct of jealousy guided him into the right trac

vendetta against this Gerald von Steinach. She wants to save him, even at the cost of treason, but she shall not succeed. He shal

and no prospect existed except certain defeat. All the men felt this, and therefore refused to o

d whether he was delivering himself and all his companions to destr

our minds. If it leads to defeat, to surrender, I shall stay. Out of my path, Ste

ished between friend and foe, and the others, too, knew their leader. No one made any farther oppos

The Vila spring allows n

ughed sc

should descend from heaven Himself, He

s very spot a few hours before. But what was then a cry o

ugh to hurl the defiance into its face, and with uplifted weapo

the earth as if all the spirits of evil were abroad. The men had flung thems

nd like thunder. There was a crashing, rumbling, deafening noise as thou

Nature herself for the ravine, had vanished, and in its place a heap of broken rocks and bowlders barred the entrance

ss of ruins and the body of their chief who had been killed by the falling rock. Marco Obrevic

their leader's scoff had received was spoken to them also. All crowded around Stephan Hersovac, the younger and now the only chief of the tribe, and a low, eager consultation took place. But it did

Then the leader gave the signal for departure, and the little band marched silently and gloomily away. They could

George, accompanied by Father Leonhard, who had joined the expedition when he learned

g could be distinctly seen, and the troops perc

officer in command. "There is the enemy. If

t, but I don't see the rock gateway Danira described, there

ard! Let us search the ravine. W

possible to obtain a glimpse of the ravine,

d priest, while Bartel, who was also present and had completely forgotten the aff

George

ravine. "And here's my lieutenant, too, safe and sound. How are you, comrades? I knew it! I k

ross-fire of questions, explanations and reports, but while Gerald was giving his comrade and Father Leonhard a minute description of

to answer. Gerald took the first opportuni

? Has she return

itness the probable conflict. Gerald, it seems to me that the young girl has a dangerous resolve. Not a word coul

phan Hersovac as he marched away called to me that he would come to the fort to-morrow with some of his fo

the step he will himself take to-morrow; she cou

s flowed here save that of the unhappy man who lies lifeless yonder, and that was shed by no human hand; it was a judgment of God Himself, whom he defi

cks, around which the others had already ga

id, blood-stained face, then raising the cross he wore in his gird

ne! I will repay