"Landlord, ho!" The shout broke the lowering silence and reverberated through the black forest with sinister echoing. "This place hath a forbidding aspect, meseemeth." Two men stood in front of the forest tavern. The building was low, long and rambling, built of heavy logs. Its small windows were heavily barred and the door was closed. Above the door its sinister sign showed faintly—a cleft skull. This door swung slowly open and a bearded face peered out. The owner of the face stepped back and motioned his guests to enter—with a grudging gesture it seemed. A candle gleamed on a table; a flame smoldered in the fireplace. "Your names?" "Solomon Kane," said the taller man briefly. "Gaston l'Armon," the other spoke curtly. "But what is that to you?" "Strangers are few in the Black Forest," grunted the host, "bandits many. Sit at yonder table and I will bring food." More In The 'Solomon Kane' Stories Series by ADB Publishing (The Original) Skulls in the Stars (1929) (The Original) The Footfalls Within (1931) (The Original) The Moon of Skulls (1930) (The Original) The Hills of the Dead (1930) (The Original) Wings in the Night (1932) (The Original) Rattle of Bones (This Book) (The Original) Red Shadows