The Strong Arm

The Strong Arm

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Strong Arm, by Robert Barr
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Title: The Strong Arm
Author: Robert Barr
Release Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8716] [Yes, we are more than
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Language: English

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THE STRONG ARM
BY ROBERT BARR

CONTENTS

Chapter I.
THE BEAUTIFUL JAILER OF GUDENFELS II. THE REVENGE OF
THE OUTLAW III. A CITY OF FEAR IV. THE PERIL OF THE
EMPEROR V. THE NEEDLE DAGGER VI. THE HOLY FEHM
THE COUNT'S APOLOGY CONVERTED AN INVITATION THE
ARCHBISHOP'S GIFT COUNT KONRAD'S COURTSHIP THE
LONG LADDER "GENTLEMEN: THE KING!" THE HOUR-GLASS
THE WARRIOR MAID OF SAN CARLOS THE AMBASSADOR'S
PIGEONS

CHAPTER I
THE BEAUTIFUL JAILER OF GUDENFELS
The aged Emir Soldan sat in his tent and smiled; the crafty Oriental
smile of an experienced man, deeply grounded in the wisdom of this
world. He knew that there was incipient rebellion in his camp; that the
young commanders under him thought their leader was becoming too
old for the fray; caution overmastering courage. Here were these dogs
of unbelievers setting their unhallowed feet on the sacred soil of Syria,
and the Emir, instead of dashing against them, counselled coolness and

prudence. Therefore impatience disintegrated the camp and resentment
threatened discipline. When at last the murmurs could be no longer
ignored the Emir gathered his impetuous young men together in his tent,
and thus addressed them.
"It may well be that I am growing too old for the active field; it may be
that, having met before this German boar who leads his herd of swine, I
am fearful of risking my remnant of life against him, but I have ever
been an indulgent general, and am now loath to let my inaction stand
against your chance of distinction. Go you therefore forth against him,
and the man who brings me this boar's head shall not lack his reward."
The young men loudly cheered this decision and brandished their
weapons aloft, while the old man smiled upon them and added:
"When you are bringing confusion to the camp of the unbelievers, I
shall remain in my tent and meditate on the sayings of the Prophet,
praying him to keep you a good spear's length from the German's broad
sword, which he is the habit of wielding with his two hands."
The young Saracens went forth with much shouting, a gay prancing of
the horses underneath them and a marvellous flourishing of spears
above them, but they learned more wisdom in their half hour's
communion with the German than the Emir, in a long life of
counselling, had been able to bestow upon them. The two-handed
sword they now met for the first time, and the acquaintance brought
little joy to them. Count Herbert, the leader of the invaders, did no
shouting, but reserved his breath for other purposes. He spurred his
horse among them, and his foes went down around him as a thicket
melts away before the well-swung axe of a stalwart woodman. The
Saracens had little fear of death, but mutilation was another thing, for
they knew that they would spend eternity in Paradise, shaped as they
had left this earth, and while a spear's thrust or a wound from an arrow,
or even the gash left by a short sword may be concealed by celestial
robes, how is a man to comport himself in the Land of the Blest who is
compelled to carry his head under his arm, or who is split from crown
to midriff by an outlandish weapon that falls irresistible as the wrath of
Allah! Again and again they threw themselves with disastrous bravery

against the invading horde, and after