The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-17
CHAPTER XVI.

AS 1 slipped through the wicket [
cast a hurried glance around me, and
then, acting on the impulse of the mo-
ment, ran forwards along the road for
about so PAGES with Babette's dagger
clenched in my hand. There 1 was
brought to a stand by a dead wall,
studded with iron spikes at the top,
which rose sheer above me for fully
20 feet, and barred all further progress.
It was evident that the Toison dor
stood in a blind alley, and that L had
taken the wrong turning. Not even an
ape could have scaled the moss-grown
and slippery surface of those stones,
and leaning against a buttress In the
darkest corner of the wall l stood for
a moment or so and waited, determined
to sell my life as dearly as possible
should [ be pursued. There was no
sound, however; all was still as the
grave. I ran my eye down the road,
but the moon was not bright enough to
penetrate the shadows, and 1 could
make out nothing except the many
storied and gabled buildings that,
packed closely to each other, beetled
over the passage. The hanging turrets
projecting from these houses were for
all the world like gigantic wasps nests,
such as are seen clinging to the rocks
Of the upper Dordogne. Here and there
turret window showed a light glim-
mering behind it, and, had I time,
might have pictured to myself re-
semblance between this beetle
browed'' passage and some long,
narrow and sluggish mountain tarn,
guarded on each side by an impossible
barrier Of frowning rocks. It was how
ever. not a moment to let ones self
be impressed by scenery, and, eyes and
ears on the stretch, I peered into the
indistinct light to see the slightest
movement, to catch the slightest sound.
But the silence remained undisturbed
It was an eyrie of nighthawks, and
they were hunting now far from their
nests. So 1 stole forth from the shad-
ow Of the buttress and, keeping the
dagger ready to strike. retraced my
steps past the Toison dor, and along
the winding and crooked passage, keep
ing as far away from the walls as pos
sible to avoid any sudden attack, until
at last [ found myself in a cross street,
down which went, taking note OF such
landmarks as [ could to guide me back,
when [ should return with vengeance
in my right hand. The cross street led
into other winding and twisting lanes,
whose sQualid inhabitants were either
fitting up and down or Quarreling
among themselves, or else sitting in q
sulIen silence. I guessed l had got my
self into one of the very worst parts
of Paris, and as l had heard that 1t
was more than dangerous to be recog-
niZed in such places as one not De
longing to the noble order OF cut-purses
I did not halt to make inquiries,
but pursued my way steadily along the
labvrinth of streets, feeling more lost
at every step [ took. Once or twice
7 passed a street stall, and as the flare
of the torches, which lit up its grew.
some contents, fell on me, L was looKeu
at curiously; but so soiled ana wet was
T. so torn my cloak and doublet IN lne
struggle with De Gomerons pIaNos'
that at the most they took me Tor
nighthawl of superior feather, whose
nITmes had been ruff1ed by meeting
With the law. That [ inspired this IDEA
was evident indeed from the way IA
which one terrible-lool1ing old man
leaned forward, and, shaking ms
palsied finger at me, croaked OUT.
Run, captain; run, Messlre oe NAoA'-
faucon" could fo,-
lowed by the laughter of those VINO
heard the remark; thinking TO nlyseIl
II was lucky it was no worse llah d
pibe that was flung at me-
How long [ wandered IN that MAJ
of streets | cannot say, but at ld9t
came upon an open space @ anu - lliltiits tdi-e
# more or less empty, stopped TO lahe
NV hearings My only chance 10 Set
hack to my lodging that highland 1t
was all important to. do so-Wda "
striIxe +he Seine at some point or otheri
bu+ in what direction the river lay l
could not, for the life Of me, tell Az
last I determined to steer by the moon,
and holding her track 10 llle Soutr"T1C al,,,,1.
of me, went on, keeping as Ianqlllalh IN
on nv left the tall sp1re OF a chufch
whose name then 1 did not know. 80
T rnust have pIodded on for about an
hour. until at last l was sensible tndt
the street in which l was was Wloer
than the others 1 had passed through
and, finally, [ saw before me d coupie
of lanterns, evidently slung on rope
that stretched across a street much
broader still than the one [ was ln
That. and the sight of the lanterns,
convinced me that l had gained one OF
the main arteries of the city, ana II
was with an inward THANK God" that
I stepped under the light and looked
about me. uncertain which direction l
should take; if 1 kept the moon behind
me, as [ had done hitherto, 1 should
have to cross over and leave the street,
and [ felt sure that this would be
serious error and that would only lead
me into further difficulties. 1t was as
yet not more than half an hour or SO
beyond Compline,so the street was full;
and unwilling to attract the attention
of the watch. which had a habit OF con-
fining it's beat to places where it was
least required, [ began to stroll slowly
down. determined to inquire the way Of
the first passer-by who looked in Il
mood amiable enough to exchange a
word with so bedraggled a wretch as
was then.
[ had not long to wait, for in a short
time L noticed one who was evidently
a well-to-do citizen hurrying along
with a persuading staff in his right
hand, and the muff1ed figure Of lady