But the eyes of the three conspirators were fixed on Armitage; it was his
life they sought; the others did not greatly matter. And so John Armitage
rode across the little plain where the Lost Legion had camped for a
year at the end of a great war; and as he rode on the defenders of the
boulder barricade saw his white face and noted the useless arm hanging
and swaying, and felt, in spite of themselves, the strength of his tall
erect figure.
Chauvenet, watching the silent rider, said aloud, speaking in German, so
that Zmai understood:
"It is in the blood; he is like a king."
But they could not hear the words that John Armitage kept saying over and
over again as he crossed the field:
"He bade me do something for Austria--for Austria!"
"He is brave, but he is a great fool. When he turns his horse we will
fire on him," said Zmai.
Their eyes were upon Armitage; and in their intentness they failed to
note the increasing pace of Oscar's horse, which was spurting slowly
ahead. When they saw that he would first make the sweep which they
assumed to be the contemplated strategy of the charging party, they
leveled their arms at him, believing that he must soon check his horse.
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