Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-06-20

outbuildings and the yard gate stood clearly |
out from the night. / heard the trampling
of feet, the sound Of Settles voice shouting
an order, and then a dismal yell and clash of
steel as we flung open the gate.
''Jacquesl" screamed the old gentleman;
my poor Jacques! Those dogs will mangle
him with their cut and thrust
Twas very sigular and sad, but, as if in an
swer to Sir Deakn's cry, we heard the brave
fellows voice; and famous shout it must
have been to reach US over the roaring of the
flames;
"Mon maitre-mon maitre !" he called twice,
and then ''Sauve toil' in fainter voice, yet
clear And after that only a racket of shouts
and outcries reached u.s. Without doubt the
villains had overpowered and slain this brave
servant. In spite Of our peril for they would
be after US at once, twas all we could do to
drag the old man from the gate and up the
road; and as he went he wept like a child.
After about fifty yards we turned in at
gate aud began to cut across field, for !
hoped thus not only to battle pursuit for a
while, but also to gain the wood that we saw
dimly ahead. 1t reached to the top of the
hill and knew not how far beyond; and as
! was rejecting that there lay our chance Of
safety, heard the inn door below burst open
with loud cries and the sound of footsteps
running up the road after us.
Moreover, to complete our fix, the clouds
that had been scurrying across the moons
face now for minute left clear interval of
sky about her; SO that right in course
] there lay a great patch brilliantly lit, whereon
I our figures could be spied at once by any one
| glancing into the field. Also, it grew evident
that Sir Deakins late agility was but short
and sudden triumph Of will over body; for
! biG ,,oor crOOl-nd lprs bepan n trnil and lac
sadly. So, turning sharp about, we struck
I for the hedges shadow and there pulled him
+ down in dry ditch and lay with q hand on
his mouth to st1e his CALCULATIONS, while we
ourselves held our breathing.
Tho runners came up the road, pausing for
moment by the gate. l heard it creak, and
saw two or three dark forms enter the field
the remainder tearing on up the road with a
great chatter of boots.
Alas, my poor Jacques!" moaned Sir
| Deakin; land to be butchered so, that never
in his days killed man but as if he loved
him."
Sir" whispered harshly, eff you keep
this noise must gag you" And with that
he was silent for a while
There was thick tangle of brambles in the
ditch where we lay; and to this we owe our
lives. For one of the men, coming our way,
passed within two yards Of us, with the fat
OF his sword beating the growth over our
heads.
"Reu-benl Reuben Gedgcs!n called voice
by the gate.
The fellow turned: and, peeping between
the bramble twigs, saw the moonlight gilt
tering on his blade. A narrow, light haired
man he was, with veal; chin; and since then
have paid him out for the fright he gave us.
whats the coil!n he shouted back.
THE stable roofs abaze-for the Lords
sake come aud save the hoSses!"
He strobe back, and in a minute the field
was clear. Creeping out with caution | grew
aware of two mournful facts: first, that the
stable was indeed atire, as | perceived by
standing on tiptoe and looking over the
hedge; and, second that my knee was hurt
bv Black Dicks bullet The muscles had
stifened while we were crouching, and now
panied me badly. Yet kept it to myself as
we started off again to run.
But at the stile that, at the top of the field
led into the woods | pulled up.
Sorry am to say it, but you must go OF
without me-"
"O-ohl' cried the girl.
; "'Tis for your safety. See, leave trail
of blood behind me, so that when day rise:
|, they will track us easily"
: And SIRE enough, even by the moon, 'twa!
easy to trace the dark spots on the grass and
earth beside the stile My left boot, too, wa.
full of blood.
, She was silent for a while. Down in tn,
valley we could hear the screams of the pool
horses. The light of the flames lit up the pin,
trunks about us to bright scarlet.
"Sir, you hold our gratitude cheaply."
She unwound the kerchef from her neck
j., and making me sit on the stile, bound up III,
= knee skillfully, twisting short stick in tn
bandage to stop the bleeding
! thanked her, and we hurried on into tn
depths of the wood, treadinS silently on tn
= deep carpet of pine needles. The ground ros
steeply all the way; and all the way, though
;. the light grew feebler, the roar and outcrie
!, in the valley followed us.
. Towards the hills summit the trees wer
:. sparser Looking upwards l saw that tn
~ sky had grown thickly overcast. We crosse'
the ridge, and after minute or SO were i
thick cover again.
> Twas here that Sir Deakin's strength CAV
= out Almost without warning, he sank dow,
:, between our hands, and in a second wa
taken with that hateful cough, that once a
ready this night had frightened me for hi
hfe
h "Ah, ahl" he groaned, between the spasmi
Il IN not mt III not III IOr Ul' ana We
taken again, and rolled about barking, S
:. that feared the sound would bring all Sc
!, ties gang on our heels. I'm not fit for it
a he repeated as the cough loft him, aud he la
:, back helpless among the pine needles.
Now, understood his words to bear on hi
>. unfitness for death, and judged them yer
:, decent and properly spoken; and took occi
sion to hint this in my attempts to conso
=. ! him.
20 "Why, bless the boy ~ he cried. sitting Il
" and staring, "for what Aye think I'm Tn
suitedr
= why, to die, sr-to be sure!"
~ "Holy Motherl" He regarded me with sur
- prise, contempt and pity, all together; IVA
., ever such dunderhead! If ever man wer
20 20 o. 10 die, am he-and that's just my reason
~ able complaint. Heart alivel It's unfit TO liv
-, | am, tied to this absurd bodyi'
suppose my attitude expressed my lack G
no comprehension, for he lifted finger an
:, went on:
-, "Tell me-can you eat beef and drink bee
re ~ and enjoy themf"
~ why, yes"
And fght-heyi and kiss a pretty cir