Weekly Trinity journal., 1878-02-02
THE GALLEY SLAVE.
A FRENCH STORY.


passing interest, which had deeply engag-
ed my anticipations of enjoyment, but of
the thousands of inhabitants ofthat famed
old city there was one alone whom |
cared to see and to krnw; and for the
very good reason that of only one man,
surely residing in Iuu'un, had | ever
heard anything unusually interesting
And who and what do you suppose this
man was will tell you. He was
Victor Lacour, then keeping a welI.or-
dered shooting gallery on little Guide
sac opening out from the Place d'Armes
and formerly convict and galley slave.
l had heard the story which had been
told throughout France, and which had
made him famous, and which was now
making his shooting gallery one Of the
most popular resorts in Teuon. This is
the story as it was told to me
In the department N the Lower Alps in
1912 there had been famine, and want,
and suffering. There was much sickness,
and the poor people had looked death in
the face, for death came very near to them.
Among the few who were blessed with
plenty was Il noblemnn OF Casteane, oc-
cupying Il great old chateau in one of the
most fertile districts of the mountainous
region, and owning hundreds upon hun
dreds Of acres of the most valuable land.
His crops had thrived while other crops
had failed, because his land was so situa-
ted that it lacked not for. moisture. In
the midst of desolution Monseigneur's
garners were flied to overlooking, and his
herds were sleek and tat. The poor peo
Pile came to him for bread, and he turned
them away hungly. They begged of him
work, that they might earn few sous,
and he would not employ them. Famish
ing mothers, with furnishing children, mp
piled at his gates-if he would let them
have bread and oil now, in their sore dis
tress, they would work for him when the
summer came, and their services would
be of use but he would not listen. His
heart was cold and hard, and for suffering
humanity he cared not whit. 1t was
such ms he that had driven the sans GU
totteS to revolution, paving the way Tor
the Reign of Terror.
By-and bye, when suffering had made
the poor people mad, some of them do
termined that Monseigneur should be
comb elled to yield food to the furnishing.
Victor Lacour was young artisan of
Castelane. lie was not himse suffering
save in so far rs he suffered in seeing 9th.
ers suffer and this, in truth, was deep
suffering for one with II heart, so tender as
was his. When he heard that the people
had resolved to break open Monseigneur's
storehouses and help themselves to bread,
he offered to lead them. And he did it
not more to help the sufferers than TO be
OF service to Monseigneur. He knew the
excitable temperament of the san cu(Ot-
tes. He feared, if they went upon their
lawess mission without cool and clear
headed leader, they might plunge into
excesses of simple diabolism. Victor La
cour went with them as their leador.-
Monseigneur was asked to give Of his
great plenty to the poor and tho starving.
He refused with utter GOODNESS, and re
viled the humble petitioners. And then
they beat down bis gates and his great
doors, and carried away much OF his
breadstuff and dried frdit, together with II
goody quantity OF wine.
Victor Lacour had been recognized as
the leader Monselgneur made no ac-
count OF the prodigious efforts put forth
by him to prevent the multitude from de-
stroyng what they did not carry away
lie only made account Of the evil score.
Victor was arrested, ard tried and con
yicted and condemned to the galleys. 1t
was in the month of March that he was
put on board an old hulk in the harbor OF
Touon, with a chain and bali OF iron made
fast to his legs and when he was taken
to his work he was forced to wear this ball
snd chain.
Victor Lacour was then FIVE and twenty
years OF age, and had been sentenced for
ten years. He was tall and strong and
handsome, and all up and down the val
leys and the hiIlsides of the lower Alps
there was deep grief on his account.
Not quite five months bad Victor spent
in his cruel condition in the galleys when
he managed to make his escape. He
lurked in the house of true friend in
Toulon three nights and three days, and
then, under cover of darkness, in dis
guise, and with a false pass he left the
city, and fled to the northward, aiming
for Switzerland. The second night from
Toulon brought him to a little hamlet, in
u retired vale, close by Castelane. 1t was
very near the breaking of day when he
applied at the door of an isolated cot for
succor. He was admitted by the master,
whose wife was soon up and dressed.
/" am an unfortunate man." he said,
"feeing from great danger. l have no
money, but ifyou will give me crust of
bread and cup of water and shelter for
the hours of daylight. / will bless you"
The peasant and his wife offered him all
they could give. They were willing to
give him protection without asking fur
ther questions, and as for food, il must be
IL simple crust, since they had no more
for themselves.
Victor saw plainly that the poor peas
ant and his wife were in deep distress
Their dropping, lustreless eyes, and wan,
tired faces showed that they had not slept
through the night, and when, a little la
ter, the children-fve of them-the eld-
est n bow OF twelve Or fourteen. and tho