The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1858-12-04

l had traced its windings for about an
other hour when arrived at clear space
IN the woods, and got sight of block
house ..'s0 : % 's'r. .a=-
sQui va la?' asked deep voice.
'Un ami p was the answer.
There were two men near the house, one
with gray hair and weather beaten features,
and the other in the prime Of youth, both
Frenchmen. ~ '"'..f .'@' .s.a
The old man looked with some astonish-
ment Mt my painting horse covered with
foam, at his dilated nostrils and quick beat
ing fanks. ~
'.Why, it seems you are in a hurry he
In few words explained the motives
OF my visit, aud told him my adventure at
Santa Madre; not forgetting to report
the advice of the German waiter at the
coffee house that should trust in him for
help.
He listened eagerly to my narrative; and
when gave him minute description of the
colonel and the major, his attention grew to
be intense.
again those two scoundrels! he said.-
SWELL, man, step into the house: never mind
the horse, the lad will rub him dry. We
have few hours before us vet. They
know by this time where you are, and will
consider twice before they call here, though
We are quite sure to hear of them at night
fall.
expressed regret at the trouble was
bringing on him !; but he only laughed and
replied, 'Never mind, we are their match"
'But we are only three, and after all we
don't know how many ruffians the tall fellow
may bring with him.
Let him bring score, we are their match,
tell you! Do you account the Princess
Royal nobody?'
'The what?'
'The Princess .Royal-la Princcsse Roy
ale = he laughed again. Don't stare at me,
you'll see her by and by
| The block house had very durable ap-
| pearance ). it was two stories high, and the
upper room was neatly furnished. On the
wall observed port ait of Gen. Moreau.
My host was no friend of the first emperor
of the French; the present emperor he men
toned only once during our conversation,
and had better not say what he said.
He lighted candle and began to block
the windows up, whilst [ was eating and
drinking what he had placed on the table,
The lad made all safe on the ground floor,
and secured the door.
'Now, we are all right ~ said the old man.
taking his seat at the table, and III king rum
and water in Il large bowl.
'Au tromph de la bonne = he said,
touching glasses with me.
'But don't see thy arms Iprcsently sug-
gcsted.
'Arms? l have plenty of that stuff. How
do you think n man could get on in these
woods without arms? But we shan't want
them tonight Again he laughed. 'Wc
have the Princess Royal
He removed the candle with the other
things from the table, and went out Of the
| room.
The door was opened again about FIVE min
utes afterward. lheard the crack of a whip.
| | saw rapid fash before my eyes: and with
cold, large jagular leaped in, alighting,
with heavy pounce, upon the table.
'La Princesse Royale.' announced my
host.
do not exactly know what figure may
have presented at that moment ; but should
not wonder if anybody were to tell me that
| | looked like craven.
'Don't be afraid of her, said the laughing
| Frcnchman, when he saw me still us a mouse
scarcely venturing TO turn my looks to her
| bright cruel eyes. sShc is as decent as n cat
when am by. Carcss her, she likes to C
| fondled its the weak side Of the sex, you
know
touched her delicate fur hut slightly with
my hand, stroking it softly down her strong
and beautiful back, the right way of the fur,
j you may be sure.
She bent her powerful and elastic limbs un-
der my frail hand, and tanning the air with
| her curved tail, seemed to GncyurGgp me to
| bcstow nv caresses.
'Wcll, how do You like the princcss:'ask-
cd my host.
'Why, to tell the truth, she is indeed hand
some, and have seen none in the world
more ma jcstic.'
take her down stairs, George he said to
the lad, handing the whip over to him, 'and
keep lookout yourself: but mind. don't
you give her any supper. She shall hep
herself, tonight
He placed the candle and our glasses again
on the table, and began to sip his grog quite
/ lesurelv.
'By heaven, man, said, after a pause,
it cannot be your real purpose to set the
tiger on these people?'
'Eh, parblcu.' replied he, 'and why not?
What else do they deserve? Are they not
also tigers? You don't know them as do!
The tall rascal is a convicted felon, < ought
to have been hanged two years ago at San
Francisco. He contrved to escape and fed
to Kansas. As to the other rogue, there is
hardly Il crime he has not stained his hands
with. Make your mind perfectly easy about
that
A sudden thought came into my mind and
! asked him whether he knew anything about
the murder of my friend ten years ago in
tho ravine near Jose Maria?
No, he knew nothing about that. 1t was
before his time only he should not wonder
| if the major had had hand in it; it looked
very like him.
We were interrupted by loud knocking
at the door. The lad came in soon after
wards, telling us that he could descry five
of them, all on horseback.
The old man rose, and moving one of the
mattresses little aside, he looked cautious
ly through the window. 1t was about nine
O'Clock, and the darkness began to set in
with the rapidity peculiar to southern eli
mates.
| The rapping was repeated more vehement
! ly, accompanied now with a loud summons
to open the door.
sHere they are, sure enough said the old
man. q wonder why this major doesn't 80
| to Kansas; he is the very man 1or hahsas
politics.
'lf you don't open the door, you French
dog said coarse voice, 'we'll break it
down.
sThe eyes of the old man flashed fire, but
he said never word.
'You know me, Delamotte,' said another
voice, which | had heard before. 'You
know Colonel Brown. But though we have
to settle an old account, have no business
with you this time: its the stranger want,
he has stolen 'orse; give him up to us, and
we'll be off in a minute
NO use talking to that old miscr,' said the
former voice, with an oath. 'Come on, boys,
break the door in, and end it,
He seemed to suit the action to the word,
| for tremendous crash came.
.En avant,' said the old man to the lad,
and they both went down stairs.
Irosc and paced up and down the room
with rapid steps. Something terrible, aw-
| fnl was going on.