The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-09-30
7 s TIE HOUSE y
R OF THE WOLF.
EIGdD (AaS II y u y
SSESEND BY STANLEY J. WElAAN.
CHAPTER IIT.-CoNTINUED.

come, men, have care that you do
not get into trouble" l urged, restrain
ing Croisette by q touch, for by no
means wished to have repetition of
the catastrophe which had happened at
Caylus. "These horses belong to the
vicomte de Caylus. If your master be
a friend of his, as may very probably
be the case, you will run the risk of get
ting into trouble"
thought heard, as stopped speak
ing, subdued muttering, and fancied
] caught the words: "Papegot! Down
with the Guises!" But the spokesman's
only answer aloud was "Cock-a-doodle-
doo!" "Cook-a-doodle-doo!" he re-
Pcated, tapping his arms in defiance.
'IIere is cock Of fine hackle!" And
so on, and 80 forth. while he turned
grinning to his companions, looking
for their applause.
was itching TO chsstise him, and yet
hesitated, lest the thing should have It's
serious side, when new actor sp-
peared. SHANE, you brutes!" cried a
Shrin voice above us-ip the clouds it
seemed. I looked up, and saw two girls,
coarse and handsome, standing at a
window over the stable, light between
them. For shame! Don't you see that
they are mere children? Let them be"
cried one.
The men laughed louder than ever;
and for me, could not stand by and be
called child. "Come here" said,
.beckoning to the man in the doorway.
"Come here, you rascal, and will give
you the thrashing you deserve for
speaking to a gentleman"
He lunged forward, a heavy fellow,
taller than myself and six inches wider
at the shoulders. My heart failed me
a little as I measured him. But the
thing had to be done. If was slight, 1
was wiry as a hound, and in the excite
ment had forgotten my fatigue. I
snatcbed from Marie loaded riding,
whip he carried, and stepped forward.
Have care, little mani" cried the
girl, gayly-yet half in pity, I think.
"Or that fat pig will kill you!"
M antagonist did not join in the
laugh this time. Indeed, it struck me
that his eye wandered. and that he was
not so ready to enter the ring as his
mates were to form it. But before /
could try his mettle, hand was laid on
my shoulder. A man appearing from
I do not know where-from the dark
fringe of the group, suppose--pushed
me aside, roughly, but not discourtcous-
ly.
Leave this to mel" he said, coolly
stepping before me. do not dirty your
hands with the knave, master. l am
pining for work, and the job will just
suit me. will fit him for the worms
before the nuns above can say an Avel"
looked at the newcomer. He was a
stout fellow; not over tall, not over
big; swarthy, with prominent features.
The plume of his bonnet was broken,
but he wore it In rakish fashion; and,
altogether, he staggered with SO dare
devil an air, clinking his spurs and
swinging out his long sword reckless
ly, that it was no wonder three or four
of the nearest fellows gave back foot.
~Come onl" he cried, boisterously,
forming ring by the simple process Of
sweeping his blade from side to side,
while he made the dagger in his left
hand fash around his head. "Who is
for the gamer Who will strike q blow
for the little admiral2 VIII you come
one, two, three at once; or all together2
Anyway, come On, you" .2NSJ
And he closed his challenge with q
volIey of fri9nffal oaths, directed at
the group opposite.
ut is no quarrel of yours" said the
big man, -sulkily; making no show of
drawing his sword, but rather drawing
back himself.
"All quarrels are my quarrels! and
no quarrels are your quarrels. This u
about the truth, fancy!" was the
smart retort; which our champion
rendered more emphatic by playful
lunge that caused the big bully to skip
again.
There was loud laugh at this, even
among the enemy's hackers. bah, the
great pig!" CALCULATED the girl above.
''Spit himl" and she spat down on the
whilom Hector-who made no great fig
ure now.
"Shall bring you q slice of him, my
dear?" asked my rakehelly friend,
looking up and making his sword play
rnnnd the shrinking xuretch MN1et a