The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1882-05-25

which he had just emptied, and then
plunging into the thicket, awaited the Sc
Quel, hidden among the bushes Of broom
and fern. Bib was in front of him sniff
ing toward the noise, which seemed to
disturb him as much as it did his master.
| The llorscman came right on, regardless
of all obstacles, and in 4 few minutes
would have been in the glade where
Jac9ucs's victim lay dead.
',kam at1 is the only person 1; . Yh9 can
thought JACQUES "c "if STAY here thcreil
be trouble. It's best for me to 20 away,
| and leave my game to him"
lie was about to carry out this wise res
| olution, when he heard 1: noise as if pro-
duccu by violent collision, followed by
q cry from Il man in distress. Jacques
smiled maliciously.
"Ramcau has fallen into the bog"
thought he. "Lct him stay there, and
God have mercy on his soul"
While muttering these words with al
most fcrocious joy, he returned to his
first occupation. Meanwhile Ramcau,
who was the chief of the nlarquis's hunts
fact, fallen into a deep and lniry bog,
where both he and his horse would UNI
doubleday perish if no one came to his
assistance.
| "IIclp! Helpv' he cried. "Isn't there
anyone who hears me? Po;cher or hum
ter, whoever you arc, who fired just now,
for mcrcy's sake como and give me your
hand, for the mud has already reached
my shoulders"
jacques was touched in spite Of him
| self. lie advanced towards the hole,
| where Rameau was vainly struggling, and
| suddenly appearing before the wild eyes
| OF his mortal enemy, said III 4 knocking
| tone:
"Aha! It's the head keeper who is
enjoying cold bath, although the sea-
son isn't warm Take your time, your
| lorlship, aud shall get some white
clothes ready for you, for it's my opinion
you'll have great need Of them when you
get out OF your bath-tub."
"Jacqucs," replied Ramcau, raising
himself with Il violent effort, "whateycr
your reasons for hatred toward me, YOU
surely will not leave me hear to die like
dog Help me out, then 90 your way
and say nothing; but try never to meet
me again. 1t will be the best for both of
u.s."
''rllat is to say" said Jacques, gloomiiy
| ''tlnlt once safe and sound, YOU will begin
again tomorrow to hunt Inc like Il wild
deer. That won't do. Promise me to
turn away when am in Your path, and
l will give you my hand. If not, bv St.
jacques, my patron, you can lie there and
| rot, and the wolves can tear your carcass
to pieces for food'
''But, wretch, even if l should make
you this PROMISE the other keepers will
not have the same reason to spare YOU,
and some day or other you will certainly
! be caught
'Thc other keepcrs!" exclaimed Jac-
ques,. with supreme contempt: II don't
care for them any more than for the skin
of Il dead rabbit. They arc afraid to come
within gunshot of me, and ! must say you
are the only one brave enough to deal
| with Jacques, the poacher"
Il can't ma ke that promise" replied
the unhappy keeper: even you would
dcspise ME for not doing my duty with
regard to you" Then he commenced to
shout again, in !, pitiablc voice, "Hclp!
Help"
''Dic- then, fool.' said jacques, pre-
tending to goaway. "I'd be very foolish
to supply tho whip to beat myself with"
| kamcau anxiousIy followed him with
his eyes.
"see here, jacques, you won't aband-
on Christian in this way, who personal
Ask something else of me, and
as / hope. to. save my soul,
you can have the choice Of everything 1
possess, except my rifle"
Il know ! can rely on you, friend
Ramcau,' said Jacques, in All undecided
tone. YOU'RE the only one I'd look at
twice down there, before shouldering
my gun. But you must promise what I
ask, or as sure as my name is Jacques
you can stay there till judgment day, if
Pm the only one to help YOU out"
1 RInn1n 11ftnrpf ciub IF 1ocpoir He
horse had completely disappeared in the
mire, and he knew that if this support
failed him, the slime would soon be over
his head, and that would be the end of
him. At last he said:
"Lct 1t be then us you wish. Your
person shall be sacred to me, and if ever
you are sent to prison, l swear will
never accuse you: But how are you 60
ing to manage? The pond is large, and
you can't reach me without risking your
own life"
"Dont let that trouble you," said
jacques, spying y young and plant oak,
which he climbed like young wildcat.
Reaching the top, he let himself hang
forming an arch, one end Of which was
directly over Rameau Then he held on
by one hand, and extended the other to
the hcad-kccper. Giving an oscillatinc
movement to the supple branch, he sue
cccdcd in completely pulling his enemy
out of the slime.
'"rhcrc's enough Of water here for a
good swimmer like You to reach the
shore. As for me, ]ook!'
He caught hold Of the young saplinc
with both hands, and as it spr,ng back
tell twenty PAGES distant right on his feet.
Ramcau was very pale, he rose up all
covered with mud. lie looked sadly at
the hole where his faithful courser was
forever immured, and then extended his
hand to Jacques, who looked at him de-
family
'Well, jacques no said, with Il cordial
manner, 81 owe you my life, and YOU
have my promise; but perhaps it would
be better if I were dead or you changed
your occupation.'
"Never!' answered jacques, with Il
savage joy. "You don't know what it is
to feel the delights of wandering alone in
the midst OF this vast forest, especially
when the wind whistles throus h the tops
Of the old oaks, when the lightning flash
es through the depths, and the rulnbling
thunder seems to make the echoes howl,
! see the deer, the wolves and even the
boars run away, frightened, while I. nv
body drenchcd with rain, my head ex-
posed to the lightning, which respects it.
stride through the forest saying: "God
dlsturbs the elements up there; the
tempest breaks the tops of aged oaks,
but around me His breath does not dis
turb blade of grass" Why should any
one fear God, who Furnishes only the
wicked? He has given me brave heart,
to despisc other men who live in society
only to destroy themselves, or to enslave
others in exchange for a few mouthfuls
OF bread or Il little gold. Well,
here [ am almost as great as
God: My subjects tremble at my sight
My food is the fruit of my skill and my
liberty. In spite of tho law which per-
sues me; in spite Of the marquis, who
calls himself proprietor of the inhabitants
OF his forest, by right of succession, my
lie ttows on calm and tranquil, and can
say: WITH pride, Il am master here!,'
| WAS Sneakinr hut Ramoa,, eh1,olz lie Lool