Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1895-07-11

ruDDENLY WE HEARD A GREAT vOLLEY
OF NGUsKETRY.
broken ground and I thought, al
though | could see nothing, that gen
eral engagement had broken out. The
Bart laughed at my idea, however, and
explained that the sound came from
the English camp, where every man
enptied his piece each morning SO as
to make sure of having a dry printing.
In another mile we shall be up with
the outposts," said he
l glanced around at this and per-
ceived that we had trotted along at 50
good pace during the time that we
were keeping UP our pleasant chat that
the dragon with the lame horse was
altogether out of sight. | looked on
every side, but in the whole of that
vast rocky valley there was no one save
only the Bart and both of us armed
you understand and both of us we'll
mounted. | began to ask myself
whether after all it was quite ncces-
sary that / should ride that mile which
would bring me to the British OUT
posts.
Now | wish to be very clear with YOU
on this point, my friends. for would
not have you think that was acting
dishonorably or ungratefully to the
man who had helped me away from the
brigands. You must remember that Of
all duties the strongest is that which a
commanding officer owes to his mon.
You must also bear in mind that war is
game which Is played under fixed
rules, and when these rules are broken
one must at once claim the forfeit. IT,
for example, had given parole, then
] should have been an infamous wretch
had l dreamed of escaping. But no
parole had been asked Of me. Out OF
overconfdence and the chance Of the
lame horse dropping behind, the Bart
had permitted me to get upon equal
terms with him. Had it been I who
had taken him | should have used him
as cOurteously as he had me, but at the
same time | should have respected his
enterprise 50 far as to have deprived
him Of his sword and seen that had
at least one guard besides myself. l
refined up my horse and explained this
TO him, asking him at the same whether
he saw any breach of honor in my leay-
ing him.
lie thought about it, and several
times repeated that which the English
say when they mean Mon Deu. You
would give me the slip, would you?"
said he.
"lf you can give no reason against it."
1.-THE only reason that l can think
of" said the Bart, lis that l should in
stantly cut your head off if you should
attempt it,"
Two can play at that game, my dear
Bart, said |.
'Then We'll see who can play it
best" he cried, pulling out his sword.
l had drawn mine also, but | was
quite determined not to hurt this adj
mir2blc young man who had been my
FbenefactOr.
am your prisoner. | might with equal
reason say that you are mine, We are
alone here, and though l have no doubt
that you are an excellent swordsman
you would hardly hope to hold your
Own against the best blade in the six
Hight cavalry brigadcs"
His answer was a cut at my head.
parried and shore off half Of his white
plume. He thrust at my breast.
turned his point and cut away the other
half of his cockade.
Curse your monkey tricks" he cried
as ! wheeled my horse away from him.
why should you strike at me-, said
]. you see that | will not strike
back"
That's all very we'll said he. "But
you've got to come along with me TO the
camp"
II shall never see the camp" said I.
"Ill lay you nine to four YOU do" he
cried, as he made at me, sword in hand.
But those words of his put something
new into my head. Could we not de.
eide the matter in some better way than
~ fighting? The Bart was placing me
in such position that l should have TO
hurt him, or he would certainly hurt
me. l avoided his rush, though his
sword point was within an inch of my
neck.
II have a proposal" I cried. eve
shall throw dice as to which is the pris-
oner of the other"
He smiled at this, 1t appealed to his
love of sport,
where are your dice?" he cried.
81 have none"
"Nor |, but have cards."
Cards let it be" said 1.
"And the game?"
81 leave it to YOU"
"Ecsrte, then-the best Of three"