The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-10-10

Just a chance that she might make
her way to the church with the KEY
In time to give the refugees admit
tanoe.
The few inhabitants of Shaldon
were now ~oongregated on the Ness,
gazing in CONSERVATION over to
Teignmouth, and when Joan rushed
painting on to tl& shore there was
no II to be seen She was in the
act of untying the painter of their
boat, noting as she did so that the
fare at French Peters hut had been
extinguished, when the noise of run
ming footsteps fell upon her ears,
bnd a rough hand was laid upon he1
arm.
so, my p'tite belle Anglaise, ]
have you caught" a hoarse voice
said in her a Why you go so
fast to welcome my brave country
men? love the Frenchmen vaire
moosh, but think you will be safer
this side the water.
ooh, let me go" she pleaded. Il
am in haste to be with my people in
their peril. You will be a neighbor
of ours here in Shaldon. Peter. /
pray you not to do me a bad turn
! which should make us i'll friends.
And a silent tongue may serve you,
for l say you light the fire to guide
the ships"
"Pouf! / care not a snap for your
friendship. 1t is you yourself that I
demand, he replied. After the
work of tonight it is not III Shaldon
that l shall dwell, SC what you make
of threats has only the laugh for
me. | will permit you to cross the
barbor, and l will myself row the
boat. If you consent to come with.
out the making of trouble, l prom.
Use to save your father and mother
from harm, whatever may befall
those others"
Very well, will go with you on
one condition-that you save the
lives of my parents, " said Joan.
Good, ma belle. Into the boat
with you, then, cried French Peter,
admitting the reasonableness Of her
proposal. Il shall soon make You
forget that lubbaire Hal Springett.
And | shall be reech-vaire reech-
after am recompense for tonight's
service"
do not go 100 far up the harbor.
! dread the tumult, said Joan when
they were nearing the Teignmouth
shore. Land, beg of you, hard by
the den. So shall we the more quick
ly reach my fathers house and pre-
vent mischief"
French Peter, believing his object
gained, pulled the boat around so as
to head for the spot where is now
the foot of Ivy lane.
The moment her feet touched the
ground and as the Frenchman was
turning to draw up he boat Joan
suddenly exclaimed: My kerchief.
/ have left it in the stern. See to it,
good Peter, I prithee, for the air
bites cold"
French Peter, whose vanity had
been flattered by her seeming CON
~placenoy into the belief that he had
made q conquest at last, despite pre-
vious failures, at once leaped back
into the boat to do her bidding,
without a shadow of suspicion.
As 500 as he had stopped down,
with his back toward her, to search
for the missing article Joan snatch
ed one of the oars, the blade of
which was projecting over the bows,
and, using it as a pole, showed the
boat off so violently that Peter fell
head over heels in the bottom.
BY thu time he had scrambled to
his feet the boat was spinning mer-
rily out on the tideway into deep
water, and Joan was already but a
white wisp rapidly disappearing in
the darkness in the direction of the
eastern side of the town.
Already many houses near the
quay were on fire, and the shouts of
the pillagers grew louder and more
triumphant. Once, as she plunged
into a narrow cross street at the
back of the den, she was seen and
chased by a party of the enemy, but
her knowledge of the byways came
TO her aid. and she managed to elude
them.
Her greatest fear now was lest the
people, finding the church closed to
them, should have scattered in search
of other refuge, in which case many
of them would fall a prey to the
enemy. 1t was therefore with a
wild eXultation that on reaching
the churchyard she found her way
blocked by a terrified yet patient
throng, waiting in the darkness
while the smith vainly essayed to
open the massive door.
Make way!" cried the breathless
girl, loath to divulge that she had
the church key, lest the people in
their joy should raise a shout which
should betray their whereabouts to
the French. make way, good folk.
] must have speech of my father, "