Page:Don Coronado through Kansas.djvu/211

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198 UICHAED I. AND SALADIN and world-renowned warrior made fearful iunecs at his opponent, yet he was unable to phase him, and so encased was the Crusader, and what with the weight he carried both him and his horse became so harassed that had it continued the odds were in favor of the champion of the prophet's cau.'se. The exact cause of secession is forgotten, but they mutually agreed to discontinue, whereupon the commander of the In- fidel hordes invited the Lion Hearted into his tent, treating the pufEed and blowed soldier of the Gross to Iced sherhjJt, which no doubt was very acceptable, considering the warmth of his body. The famous Scotchman in his "Pair Maid of Perth" immortalizes himself by his extraordinary de- scriptive powers in a joust on foot, wherein the hated Southrens were met by an equal number of High- landers. A boy who reads this historical novel (and every boy ought to read aU of his works) will be car- ried away, so much so that he will neglect his study; but God bless you, my son, it is ennobling to read of such sturdiness and nobility of soul as displayed by the hero, Harry of the Wynd; and this realistic ac- count as given by the gentleman of Abbotsford was no pretension; it was to the death; and further, the author bases the account upon facts. It would be presumptuous to try to imitate the story by reteUing it; you must read the original to appreciate the thrill- ing nature of the episode. Another joust must be noted before proceeding. It is the one which read as boy and man, each time being intensely thrilled by Dumas' "Three Muske- teers." The principal character is a youth of just