The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-12-06
NUMBER -.

that French blood shall be poured out Uke
water; when that day comes, then bsthinIs
you OF my words. This 10 all would ssy I'm
you' noble sir So now, farewell; and uasx
God have you in His keeping!"
AS De Mortenay, when left to himself. nor
dered over Deconinck's words, he could nas
out feel an anxious fereboding that como ter.
rioie secret lay hidden under them; he no.
solved therefore that he would the very ,rexs
day warn De Chatillonato especial visiianss.
and himself take extraordinary measures fas.
the security Of the city. Little deeming THAI
what he feared, and thought to provsaa
against, was 80 near ct hand, he now retired
to his bed, and soon fell asleep in all tram
quillity.
| CHAPTER XVII.
Behind the village of St. Cross, ut some fsv
| bowshots from Bruges. rose q little wood. in
summer favorlte Sundays resort of the citi.
zens. The trees were so planted az to sffoed
ample space between them, and o soft turf
covered the ground with its howery CARPET.
This was the appointed place of rendezyouss
and already, at two O'Clock in the morning
breydel was there. The night was impenstrn-
bly, dark, the moon was hidden behind dense
clouds, gentle wind sighed among the foliage,
and the monotonous rustlipg of the leavsa
aoueu mystic terror TO the scene.
In the wood ITSELF at the first glance moth.
ing was discernible; but upon more attentive
observation numerous shadowy figures might
be perceived, as of men extended eide By aida
upon the ground, each with o strangely giim-
meriDg light close to 1t, making the turf look
like faint reflex of the starry heaven above,
so thickly was it studded with luminous
points; which, in truth, were nought else but
the bright blades Of the axes rejecting from
their polished steel the few wandering rnya
which they could gather amid the darkness.
More than two Thousand butchers lay thus in
rank and file upoh the earth their hearts
beat quick, their blood bounded in their
veins: for the long-yearned- for hour, the hour
of vengeance and liberation, was at hand.
The deepest silence was maintained by thia
vast multitude; and all conspired to throw q
veil of necromantic horror over the mystorieas
band.
Breydel himself had his place deep In the
interior of the wood; beside him reelincd one
Of his comrades, whom for his weIl-trisd
courage he especially affected and thus, I'm
whispers, the two discoursed -
gether as they lay:
The French dogs little expect the rousinG
up they will get this morning." began Breydal;
: they sleep we'll for they have scared eoa-
villains Am curious to ses the
iaceS they'll make when they wske up and sec
NY axe, and their death upon its edge"
"Oh my axe cuts like lancet Whetted
{ till it took of q hair from my arm; sad
mean to blunt it this night, or never to sharpen
t again"
"Tbings have gone too far, Martin. They
reat us like 80 many dumb beasts, and think
hat We shall crouch beneath their tyranny
hey fancy we're all like those accutSed
.ilyards but they little know u.s."
" Yes, the bastard villains cry, France fer
yer" and fAwn upon the tyrauts; bat they
hall have something for themselves too;
idn't forget them when took much pains
bout sharpening my axe"
40, no, Martin, no; no Flemish blood mast
9 shed. Deconinck has strictly forbiddeast.''
"And John Van Gistei. the coWardIy traitorr
he to come of scot-fJeef"
John van Gistel is to hang; BIO must pay
r the blood of Deconinck's old friend Bot
must be the only one"
" What! aud the other false Flemings are 60
cape scsthelessl Master BroydSi, Master
-eydel, that's too much for me; cannot
ray with it."
" They'll have punishment enough disgraos
i'll be their portion; shame in their hearts,
ID contempt on the lips and cOuntenanoes OF
good men. Were it nothing, think yOu,
at each conner should throw bastard, coward,
ID traitor in yonr facet That's what romans
r them"
" Faith, master, yOu make my blood run
Id thousand deaths were better than that
bat hell upon earth for them, IL only thsT
d one spark Of the true Fleming in their
uIbl"