I never
could face your family again," said Armitage earnestly. "Take your horse
and go."
"I'm going back to the valley when you do."
"Humph! Drink your coffee! Oscar, bring out the rest of the artillery and
give Captain Claiborne his choice."
He picked up his sword again, flung the blade from the scabbard with a
swish, and cut the air with it, humming a few bars of a German
drinking-song. Then he broke out with:
"I do not think a braver gentleman,
More active-valiant or more valiant-young,
More daring or more bold, is now alive
To grace this latter age with noble deeds.
For my part, I may speak it to my shame,
I have a truant been to chivalry;--
"Lord, Claiborne, you don't know what's ahead of us! It's the greatest
thing that ever happened. I never expected anything like this--not on my
cheerfulest days. Dearest Jules is out looking for a telegraph office to
pull off the Austrian end of the rumpus. Well, little good it will do
him! And we'll catch him and Durand and that Servian devil and lock them
up here till Marhof decides what to do with him. We're off!"
"All ready, sir;" said Oscar briskly.
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