Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1873-01-03

mirably, vivld sketches OF THESE Ihriiihs
scenes, the rustics listened with delight
and wonder; but when he came to ex-
plain the object of his present expe-
dition "when | announced that
meant to capture, single-handed, all the
powder that was in military town, con-
tanning eight thousand inhabitants, and
garrison of eight hundred men :" they
looked at him doubtfully, and thought
he was crazed. This was, of course,
welcome to Alexandra, who always de-
lighted to put himself in theatrical at
titude, and be the centre OF dramatic
situation.
He turned to his companion, Bard:
"What we're my words when propos-
ing this expedition TO your
You asked" was the reply. "was l
inclined to get myself shot with you"
"And what do you say nowY"
"That am ready still.
All we're confounded at such gallant
ry. One of his friends now stepped for
ward and offered to get him into Soissons,
as he had friend at the gates. Then
Alexandra, always anticipating his
D'Artagnan, raised his glass and drank
to his own return to them on the next
evening. Have dinner ready" he
called to the host, " for twenty people ;
and it is to be eaten just the same, wheth-
er we are alive or dead here are two
hundred francs" The other answered
he might pay on the morrow. But If
/ should be shot ?'-" Then / shall pay"
A shout arose, "Hurrah for Cartier y
Dumas drank off his wine, and, we
might add, the act drop fell.
1t was now about IL O'clock. The
horses we're put to, the chaise was wait
ing. and the bold trio-Dumas, Bard
and Huntin (who was to pass them
through the gates) drove away on their
daring expedition. By one o'clock they
had reached the gate of Scissors, through
which they were allowed to pass, " the
. doorkeeper little dreaming" says Alex
andre the Great, that he was admitting
the Revolution"
They went straight to the house o.
Huntin's mother, where their first busi
ness was the manufacture of a huge tri
color flag. She contributed her blue and
red curtains, with tableeloth, and al
the women of the household were set tC
: work to sew the pieces together. BY
daybreak the task was completed. The
pole, of course, gave no trouble, as th'
one from which the Bourbon white flag
was floating would answer. The flag
staff" as Dumas says, had no politica
opinions"
The plan they had arranged was real
ly quixotic in its extravaganza, and, in
4 deed seems almost incredible. Making
all allowance for Dumas bombast, i
!, will be seen that, at the most he has on
q ly been guilty of the novelists exaggera
i. ton and. though at the time the stor,
:. of the adventure was all but secuted,
: could not be disproved in its facts, whic
are given with the most minute details G
dates, names and places. 1t was settle
that Bard and Huntin were to take til
flag, and contrive to get into the cath'
u dral under pretence of seeing the su
- rise from the tower. IF the sacrista
= made any resistance he was to be fun
l. over the parapet. Then, having dragge
,f down the white flag, and set the tricolC
n floating from the tower, Bard was
40 hurry on to lend his aid to Dumas, WI
f. would be engaged at the powder mag
zine. Such was the dashing plan
y. these three men.
h. They started at daybreak, and Dum
ed made his way to Fort St. Jean, where
if. small pavilion close to the gateway w
n used as the magazine. He dared N
ge attempt the gate, but stealing roun
ed climbed up the wall cautiously and toc
ry a peep into the fort. He saw two 81
We diers busilY hoeing in little garden
Is the corner. He let himself down aga
he and looked over at the distant cathedri
he He saw distinctly against the sky da
al outline of some figures; then the whi
lp, flag after being tossed about in an e
nd traordinary manner that could not
las the operations of the wind, finally
nd appeared, and the tricolor took its pla,
he Now was the moment his companio
,ut had done theie part. lie slung his dou
ut ie-barreled gun about him and begun
ey climb the wall. When he got to t
re- top, he saw the two soldiers staring wi
ell wonder at the strange flag ON the cati
use dral, then cooking both barrels of his g
he he leaped down and stood before the
led One was named Captain Mollard a
ev- the other was Sergeant Ragon. He {
bo vanced on them, presenting his pie
nd and made courteous but hurried spec,
nat explaining who he was and his erraI
He He was Mons Alexandra Dumas, &
IL IN II