Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-05-25


Jacques's victim lay dead.
'Rameau is the only person who can
gallop that way through the thicket,"
thought Jacques. eff stay here there'n
be trouble. It's best for me to go away,
and leave my game to him
He was about to carry out this wise res
olution, when he heard noise as if pro-
duced by violent collision, followed by
q cry from man in distress. Jacques
smiled malciously.
"Rameau has fallen into the bog"
thought he. ''Let him stay there, and
God have mercy ON his soul"
While muttering these words with al
most ferocious joy, he returned to his
first occupation. Meanwhile Rameau,
who was the chief of the marquis's hunts
man, howled with despair, for he had, in
fact, fallen into a deep and miry. bog,
where both he and his horse would I'M
doubtedly perish if no one came to his
assistance.
Help! Help he cried. 'Isn't there
anyone who hears me? Poacher or hun
ter whoever you are, who fired just now,
for mercv's sake come and give me your
hand, for the mud has already reached
my shoulders"
Jacques was touched III spite of him
SELF He advanced towards the hole,
where Rameau was vainly struggling, and
suddenly appearing before the wild eyes
of his mortal enemy, said in a knocking
tone:
"Aha! Its the head keeper who is
enjoying a cold bath, alth ough the sea-
son isn't warm. Take your time, your
lordship, and l shall get some white
clothes ready for you, for it's my opinion
you'll have great need ofthem when you
get out of your bath-tub."
Jacques" replied Rameau, raising
| himself with a violent effort, whatever
your reasons for hatred toward me, you
surely will not leave me hear to die like
dog. Help me out, then go your way
me again. 1t will be the best for both of
u.s."
| That is to say" said Jacques, gloomily
! ''that once safe and sound, you will begin
again tomorrow to hunt me like wild
| deer That won't do. Promise me to
| turn away when l am in your path, and
| will give you my hand. If not, by 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 1 should make
you this promis, e the other keepers will
not have the same reason to spare you,
and some day or other you will certainly
| be caught"
"The other keepers" exclaimed JAG
queS, with supreme contempt. II don't
care for them any more than for the skin
of dead rabbit. They are afraid to come
are the only one brave enough to deal
with Jacques, the poacher"
Il can't make that promise" replied
the unhappy keeper. even you would
despise me for not doing my duty with
regard to you" Then he commenced to
shout again, in q pitiable voice, Help
Help"
''Die then, foolp' said jacques, pre-.
tending to 90 away. ''Td be very foolish
to supply the whip to beat myself with )
i Rameau anNiously followed him witt
his eyes.
"See here, Jacques, you won't aband
on Christian in this way, who PERSONAL
| ly never did you any harm:
Ask something else of me, anG
as l hope to save my soul
you can have the choice of everything
possess, except my rifle" ..
Rameau," said Jacques, i'll an undecided
tone. "You're the only one I'd look a
twice down there, before shoulderins
my gun. But you must promise what
, ask, or as sure as my name is Jacques
you can stay there till judgment day, i
Pm the only one to help you out"
Rameau uttered sigh of despair. Hi
horse had completely disappeared ill thu
mire, and he knew that if this supper
, failed him, the slime would soon be owe
his head, and that would be the end o
him. At last he said:
Let 1t be then as you wish. You
person shall be sacred to me, and if eve
you are sent to prison, l swear l vii
never accuse you. But how are you 60
ing to manage? The pond is large, ant
: you can't reach me without risking you
, own life"
Don't let that trouble you," sal,
Jacques, spying a young and plant oak
which he climbed like a young wildcat
Reaching the top, he let himself ham
forming an arch, one end of which wa
directly over Rameau Then he held OF
by one hand, and extended the other t.
the head-keeper. Giving an oscillatin
! movement to the supple branch, he sue
ceeded in completely pulling his enem
, out of the slime
"There's enough Of water here for
good swimmer like you to reach tn
. shore. As for me, lookw
He caught hold of the young saplin
g with both hands, and as it sprang bacl
fell twenty PAGES distant right on his feet
+ Rameau was very pale, he rose up al
+ covered with mud. He looked sadly a
o the hole where his faithful courser wa
;. forever immnred, and then extended hi
hand to Jacques, who looked at him de
family.
"Well, Jacques" he said, with cordia
|
have my promise; but perhaps it woul'
: be better if l were dead or you change,
8 your occupation"
Never" answered Jacques, with
savage joy. "You don't know what it
: to feel the delights of wandering alone il
q the midst of this vast forest, especial,
when the wind whistles through the top
y of the old oak" when the lightning flash
, es through the depths, and the rumblin
, thunder seems to make the echoes howl
, / see the deer, the wolves, and even tn
/ bears run away, frightened, while 1, m.
; body drenched with rain, my head ex
: posed to the lightning, which respects ii
$ / stride through the forestsaying: Goo
4 disturbs the elements up there; tn
s tempest breaks the tops of aged oaks
? turb blade of grass" Why should an,
: one Iear UOQ, WHO Furnishes only Ill
q wicked? He has given me brave heart
. to despise other men who live in societ
: only to destroy themselves, or to enslav
\ others in exchange for few mouthful
: of bread or little gold. Well
/ here am almost as great a
> God. MM subjects tremble at my sigh
> My food is the fruit of my skill and m,
!. liberty. In spite of the law which per
j sues me; in spite of the marquis, VIII
s calls himself proprietor of the inhabitant
; of his forest, by right of succession, m
: life flows on calm and tranquil, and | cal
! say with pride, st am master here"
Jacques looked truly noble while b.
! was speaking, but Rameau shook his head
+ Friend Jacques, I know you'rea GOO
; fellow, but everybody does not agre
with you in your ideas. BY Joye! here
5 some more Of your work. full,,growl