Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1890-06-20
CHAPTER VI.
THE FLIGHT IN THE PINE WOOD.

Dr TWO OIL lneSe uOZen TaSCilS 10 DE prcLUy lar
gone in drink, and afterwards found this to
he the case. l looked round Sir Deakin
had picked up the lamp and was mixing his
bowl of punch, humming to himself without
the least concern;
"vivre en- tout cas-
Cest lie grand soulas,"
with glance at his daughters face, that was
white to the lips but firmly set.
Hand me the nutmeg yonder, he said,
pnd then, "Why, daughter, what's thisl-a
trembling handl"
And all the while the footsteps were COM
5ng up.
There was loud knock on the door.
Come inl" called Sir Deakin.
At this, jacques, who stood ready for bat
te by the entrance, wheeled round shot a
look at his master and, dropping his point,
made n sign 20 me to do the same The door
was thrust rudely open, and Capt. Settle,
his hat cooked over one eve and sham drunk
enness in his gait, lurched into the room,
with the whole villainous crew behind him,
huddled on the threshold. Jacques and
stepped quietly back, 50 as to cover the girl
Would you mind waiting momentf in
pured Sir Deakin, without looking up, but
rubbing the nutmeg calmly up and down the
Crater; "a fraction too much, and the whole
punch will be spoiled"
1t took the captain aback and he came to a
stand, eying us, who looked back at him
without saying a word. And this disoom-
posed him still further,
There was minute during which the two
parties could hear each others breathing.
Sir Deakin set down the nutmeg, wiped his
thin white fingers a napkin, and addressed
the captain sweetly:
Before asking your business sir, l would
beg you and your company to taste this
in t,a Of =,
old gentleman took sip from the mixing
aadle-"has had the extreme honor to be pro-
nounced divine" He smached his lips, and,
rising to his feet, let his right hand rest
the silver foot Of the lamp as he bowed to the
captain.
Capt. Settles bravado was plainly oozing
away before this polite audacity; aud, seeing
Deakin taste the punch, lie pulled Off his cap
in a shamefaccd manner and sat down by
the table with word of thanks.
Come in, sirs; come in," called the old
gentleman, and follow your friends ex-
ample. Twill be a compliment to make mo
mix another bowl when this is finished" He
stepped around the table to welcome them,
still resting his hand on the lamp as if for
steadiness. | saw his eye twinkle they
shulIled in and stood around the chair where
the captain was seated.
Jacques, bring glasses from the cupboard
yonderl And, Della, fetch some chairs for
our guests-no, sirs pray do not mover
He had waved his hand lightly to the door
Rs he turned to us; and in an instant the in
tention well as the bright success of this
comedy flashed upon me. There was now no
one between us aud the stairs, and as for Sir
Deakin himself, he had already taken the step
OF putting the tables width between him and
ais guests.
I touched the girls arm, and we made as if
to fetch couple Of chairs that stood against
the wainscot by the door. AS we did so, Sir
DeaIin pushed the punchbowl forward under
the captain S nose
"Smel, SIR he cried, airly, land report
to your friends oil the foretaste."
Settles nose hung over the Steaming COM
pound. With a swift pass of the hand, the
old gentleman caught up the lamp and had
shaken drop OF burning oil into the bowl.
A great blaze leaped TO the ceiling There
was howl-a scream of pain; and
pushed Mistress Della through the doorway
and out to the head of the stairs, caught a
backward glimpse of Sir Deakin rushing
after us, with of the stoutest of the rob
bers at his heels.
Down stairs, for your life!" l whispered
to the girl, anil, turning, as her father tum
bled past me, let his pursuer on my
sword, as on a spit At the same instant, an
versely, and Jacques stood beside me, with
his back to the Intel.
As we pulled our swords out and the mar
dropped, had brief view into the room
where now tue blazing liquid ran of the tab
i'll stream. Settle, stamping with agony
had his palms pressed against his scorcheC
eyelds. The fat landlord, III trying to bea
out the flames, had increased them by up
setting two bottles of aqua Vita, and wa
dancing about with three fugcrs in his mouth
The rest stood for the most part dunn
founded but Black Dick had his pistol lifted
Jacques and l spranS out for the landing
and round the doorway. Between the tlas
and the report ! felt sudden scrape, as 0
red hot wire, across my left thigh and JUS
above the knee.
"Tenez, canarade," said Jacques voice i
my ear; "a moi Ia porte-a vous le maitre
la-bas;' and he pointed down the staircase
where, by the glare Of the conflagration tina
beat past us, | saw the figures OF Sir Deaki
and bis daughter standing.
But how can you keep the door against
dozeap
The Freschman shrugged his shoulders wit
smile
"Mais CONNIE cal"
For at this moment came rush of foot
steps within the room. l saw a fat paunc
thrusting past US, quiet pass of steel, an
the landlord was wallowng on his face acros
the threshold. Jacques teeth snapped tc
gether as he stood ready for another victim
and as the fellows within the room tumble
back he motioned Inc to leave him.
sprang from his side, and, catching til
rail of the staircase, reached the foot in
couple of bounds.
"Hurryw cried, and caught the old ba
Duet by the hand. His daughter took II
other, and between us we hurried him aero
the passage for the kitchen door.
Within, the chambermaid was on her kne
by the settle, her face and apron of the syn
hue. saw she was incapable Of helping, al
ha.tened across the stone floor and out t
wards the back entrance
A stream OF icy wind blew In our faces
stepped over the threshold. The girl al
bent our heads to it, and, stumbling, tri
ping and painting pulled Sir Deakin with
out into the cold air.