IVANHOC

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21216, 10 December 1938, Page 4 (Supplement)

IVANHOC

A STORY OF THE AGE OF CHIVALRY

By

SIR WALTER SCOTT

CHAPTER 24

Th? Ransom

“Dogs and varlets!” exclaimed the furious Morman. “What have you brought me here?” “I think I can tell you,” said De Bracy, who just entered the apartment. “This is Cedric’s clown, who fought so manful a skirmish with Isaac of York about a question of precedence.” “I shall settle it for them both,” replied Front-de-Boeuf. “They shall hang on the same gallows. But where is the Saxon?” The attendants faltered forth their belief that if this were not Cedric, they did not know what had become of him. “Fiends of Hell!” exclaimed Front-de-Boeuf, “it was then Cedric who was the monk and whom I ushered to the postern and dismissed with my own hands! But you, Saxon,” he added, addressing Athelstane, “you will have to pay! A thousand marks for your liberty, and moreover you will assure us the retreat of that scum of mankind who are swarming around the castle.” “I shall pay it, and so far as I can 1 will withdraw them.” “We are agreed then. But mark you, this extends not to the Jew Isaac, nor his daughter, nor Rowena, nor the Jester.” “Deal with the unbelievers as you like,” said Athelstane. “The Lady Rowena is my affianced bride. I will be drawn by wild horses before I consent to part with her. The slave Wamba has this day saved the life of his master. I will lose mine before a hair of his head is injured.”