The record-union., 1894-12-08

beckouing solitary barquero to the
schooner's prov, | gave him some French
coin and bade him wait for q single pas
senger.
Descending quickly into the dark hold,
called out i'll a low tone:
'Senor Refugidadoi Come instantly ~
The man was already close beside me.
told him OF the waiting boatman; sprang
upon deck ami helped him gain footing
there. no easy task with his stiffened
limbs, and almost pushed him from the
schooner'S deck into the waiting boat as
he tervently breathed a, God guard thee
and met" and [ turned to face Pierre
FloQuet, who was approaching with no
gentle tread; while q 1.-the and ghostly
form seemed stealthily creeping be-
hind him.
"Some harbor thieves I have fright
away. That Is all, Pierrew L managed
to explain while he regarded me with
suspicious keenness. I'VE must have
better care of the craft while it lies in
the harbor OF GiiOn."
Yes, yes; we will give it good care I
will give it good care ~ he retorted. as if
half awakened TO some indehnable
danger.
But Celeste, creeping closely to my
side, repaid me fully with her whispered
words
more than one shall ever love you for
this noble deed ~
This almost thrilling prophecy rang in
my ears ali the days we idled In Gijon,
until Pierre kIoquet had sold to advant-
age his handsome little craft.
1t never left me as our happy cavalcade
tralled out of the ancient city, where the
lnVIncIoIe Armada was once repaired,
through the fruitful valleys by PraVia
and Salas; along the banks of the flash
ing Marcia; past Belmonte and CaIgas;
through the lush fields where the Galle-
gan reaperS telled the ripe grain with
their hoOk-like hoz and sang their weird
aud wild Tras os Monies songs: under
miles of the gnarled and stunted olive,
shading long ana SlnuOus lanes: over
bridges older than Moorish rule III Spain;
past roadside chapels with the rook-like
ceasele5s clatter OF their cracked old bells;
beside ruined mOnaSICriGS and ruinOuS
aDodes OF starving monks, begging their
dole from us as we went merrilV on:
through the hushed cleaning Of myriad
stately chestnut groves; and then on and
on and up and up, through the mighty
passes, among the dark raVines and
mournful gems OF Sierra de Banadeiro,
where the bells of our cattle and the shriIl
Whlstllngs and songs OF our muleteers
were almost silenced by the hoarse water
falls descending from the eternal SHOWS;
TO our last night encampment; where,
across the red tiles of Graudas, lay the
rim nestled Melra, Mecca OF the journey
OF Pierre kloqUet.
Even here In our romantic surround
Ings, beside the tiaring, gypsy-like fires
1t seemed to press closer and more fore
bOdlngly into my consciousness. 1t was
carried wildly along on tho thunderous
mountain-sOunds Of the night. 1t trem-
bled IN my companions tones. 1t bro0ded
in the lowering shadows. 1t even pene-
trated my droauS like Shri1 challenges.
And at last it startled me from sleeU, i'll
the actuality OF words. as the first morn
ing rays filtered through the mighty frs,
as Celeste, bending over my couch softly
whispered:
"Silence! Remember that whatever in
the next hour comes, more than one shall
ever love you for your noble deed at
GiiOn.'
I arose and dressed. The camp was
astir. l passed to the edge of the near
rushing stream and bathed nv face and
hands. As l turned TO leave the stream
! was seized from behind. Instantly a
mordaZa was placed in my mouth, my
eyes were blindfolded, my arms were
pinioned and I was then gently led back
10 camp.
Here l could distinguish swift move
meuts, rustlings, hurryiugs, strugglings
and low words of command and threat.
More dreadful than all 10 me were tho
hideOus screams Of Pierre Floquet, as he
unaYalllngiy StrOve against his bonds;
for his maledictiOns were not those OF
despair at the ruin of all his earthly hopes,
but were launched at me, at whom he
cursed and cIutched, as his betrayer.
tierce and fiercer grew his struggles
with has captors. Some keen instinct of
horrible vengeance brought him closer
and closer to me, as though in his giant
strength, despite all restraint, he would
butt out my life like a raving bull. I
could feel his fiery breath upon me- / be-
lieved my end had come, when l felt a
little form dart close against my own and
heard Celeste cry:
Father! Father Pierre Floquet! He is
innocent! lie is your friend-noble and
good. Sec! Know it is my life, shelter
ing his, you shall first destroy ~
The ipfuriated Cagot sank moaningly
beneath MS captors.
Then all was still for a little until /
heard the clinking of coin as it was cast
hurriedly into leathern pouches.
"All all ~ came from the voice of
him in command. Even the belt hiding
the cheques for golden onzas on the bank
of Spain. Pierre floquet shall not have
left so much as centayo for his grand
lie at Melra. We will even roast his
calves and sheep for our dinnerp'
a burst of wild laughter followed this
cruel threat. and pitifuI groan escaped
Pierre tIoquets hips as the last vestige of
his hoard was stripped from him.
shortly we were all led forward into
the roadway. Here we were forced to
walk for perhaps q half-h hours time
Then our course led over q narrow path
way, along the rocky side of some stream
which roared and Numbered far below.
Finally we were halted. The bandages
were removed from our eyes, the morda-
zas from our mouths, and we found our
selves under guard il a covert-like space
overspread with tirs, defended on the one
side by an almost impossible barrier of
rocks, and on the other by the brink of
tremendous chasm.
There were but few OF the band about
us, and after we had been given bread
and wine one of the robbers came close TO
the side Of Pierre Floquet.
Our chief" he said, lis a kindly man,
and he would deal generously with you.
He bids me say he has no use for your
gold, ii you will but listen to reason. If
you will give to him in honorable mar
riage such one OF your daughters as he
may choose, he Will return to you intact
every real you have lost, and further, it
shall be yours unl9ss that daughter shall
gladly give her free CONSENT"
While Pierre Floquers face writhed like
some savage animals at bay, he cast ap-
pealing looks upon Clothilde and Celeste
If with your free and lasting will?
answered ClothiIde for both. "ShaIl 1
first go to see him, Father Pierre?"
lie Diable! 1t shall be so, came Sob
bingly from Pierre Floquet.
ClOthilde went and returned, dolefuIly
shaking her head. Then Celeste radi-
antiy disappeared, while my own heart
sank despairingly within me at the
thought of this irretrievable sacrifice.
In a moment more. one of the brigands
came to Pierre Floquet, unbound him,
and poured upon the sward before him
every article of which he had been des-
nnilnd While la clntched at Ii savarnlrr