The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1896-09-25

of their parole. which demanded that
they should make no attempt to escape
or go farther than two miles from their
dwelling.
Till the French prisoners of war were
quartered at the manor house, Greg
and Peggy had been regarded as good
as promised to each other, and 1t had
only been of late, since Camille -Four
nier had taken to speaking to the girl
that GOODNESS had sprung up between
them.
Camille Fournier, the brother of the
captain of the Alceste, had early con-
trived to scrape an acquaintance with
Peggy Dempster, and the vivacious vii
lowing warmer Irritation than she
had perhaps intended
They were always loafing about the
village, with nothing whatever to do
but kill time by making eyes at the
women folk. Hence the patriotism of
the husbands and fathers in the Firefy
was all the greater in choosing death
rather than the dishonor of aiding the
escape of those whom they had good
reason to wish elsewhere.
Peggy was leaning over her fathers
garden gate one evening, saying good
night to the French officer, who was too
much engrossed to notice that Greg Ap-
plegarth was coming up the road.
Would that my captivity could en-
dure forever" Camille said. How shall
ever tear myself from your sweet
| presence, Mistress Peggy, when l re-
turn to FranceY
There is a way out of that difficulty:
you might ask me to come, too," re-
piled the thoughtless girl.
81 will bear that in mind" said Ca
mile, not suspecting, in his vanity. that
the words were meant for other ears
than his.
Greg Applegarth had referred to this
incident only the day before the cap
ture of the Firef1y, and had expressed
bitter hatred of ak Frenchmen in
general and of Lieutenant Camille
Fournier in particular.
And now here he was, to Jacobs
amazment, assisting not only the ma
ton, but the individual, to defy his own
country and to land an armed force ON
her shores.
Questioned by Captain Fournier as to
his reasons for not following their ex-
ample, he replied with grin that he
was not so fond of his country as to
want to die for her when there was a
plain way out.
The Firefy was captured on a Satur-
day, and 1t was not till dawn was
breaking on Sunday that Greg was
called on to act as pilot, when the
brigantine was rounding Selsea Bill.
AS the vessel was now In the fair way
for Portsmouth and British cruisers
swarmed like wasps about the entrance
of their nest, the French seamen lay
concealed below, except half dozen
dressed in garments taken from the
English sailors stock. Captain Four
nier, pistol in hand, stood close to
Greg, alert for the first sign of treach
cry
Before running for Hayling Island to
make the entrance of the creek he
fouEo 1t necessary to execute several
maneuyers which took a good deal of
time. explaining the necessity Of them
by the numerous shadows he had to
avoid,
When at length he put the helm up
and stood boldly into the creek on the
half food the wind swerved from be-
hind, but presently sharp bend in the
narrow passage made the sails useless
and the boats were ordered out to tow.
The brigantine emerged from the mar
row gut of the winding creek into the
broader waters at the village just as
the bells OF Bosham church ceased ring
ing for morning service.
The French captain was burning
with suppressed excitement.
Where is the manor house where my
brother lives?" he asked, as Greg gave
the wheel a turn and brought the Fire
fly round.
There, yonder-back of the church."
was the reply. I've fetched you up
right opposite to it-as near as l dare
go. You'd best anchor here"
The French captain gave the neces-
sary orders, and at once set about max
ing his dispositions for landing his en-
tire force, except a sufficient guard for
the prisoners.
Though the landing entailed several |
journeys in the Firehy's boats, 1t was
rapidly effected, and with Fournier at |
its head the party started for the man.
or house under Greg's guidance.
Only hundred yards OF marshy pas |
ture land lay between the creek and |
the moat, but the young ssilor lad led
the Frenchmen a long slant up the
meadows and back again before finally
approaching their goal The captain
looked at him once or twice suspic
iously.
you don't want your men stuck In
the mud" said Greg, and he pointed
convincingly to quagmire they were
passing.
After half an hours wandering to
and fro in the meadows he led the
party up to the bridge over the moat,
and they entered the grounds of the
manor house from the rear. AS they
filed round to the front, group Of men
who were sitting under tree on the
lawn started on seeing the familiar uni
FORM A minute later Captain Fournier
had embraced his brother and explain
ed the situation.
The prisoners of war were in an costa
sy of delight at the prospect of, as one of
them facetiously put 1t, being "brutally
dragged from their parole" but on the
captain proposing an immediate return
to the boats, Camille waved his hand
gayly in depreciation.
"Wait a brief time, my BROTHER" he
laughed. 'The little god Cupid de-
mands it. and we are quite safe from
opposition here. There are not twenty