The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-22
CHAPTER VII.
Poor Nicholas.

men running LOT Jnelf lives. WAS
bursting with anger, and know not
what restrained me from pistoling
Nicholas, so furious was l at the blind
folly of the man. AS we reached the
horses we could hear the dogs splash
Ing through the spill water at the edge
of the lake, and some one fired third
shot ar us from horseback a shot in
the dark. which whistled through the
branches overhead.
quick! quick! monsieur graSped
Nicholas. and with a turn of his hand
he freed Couronne and sprang to her
back. the great mare standing steady
as a rock.
Quick he called out again more
loudly and l made a vain effort to
loosen my beast, which, startled by the
shots, the baying Of the dogs and our
haste and hurry, plunged and kicked
as thoush it were demented.
Damn your 1 Kissed, half at the
horse, half at the crop-eared idiot who
had caused this disaster, and, manag-
ing somehow to scramble to the sad
die. cut the halter with a draw of my
dagger At this moment the dogs reach
ed us, a dark object sprang UP from
the ground and, fastening on the jaws
Of my horse, brought him to his knees,
whilst the other beast flew at my COM
panion. Nicholas pistol rang out to
no purpose. the report was echoed by
following us, and Couronne, swinging
around. dashed out with her hee.s at
the hound that was baying her. Lean
ing forward with one arm half around
the neck of my snorting horse, l thrust
twice at the hound hanging to him,
the first time sliding off his metal col
lar, but at the second blow my blade
slipped to the hilt into something soft,
1t seemed of it's own accord, and as
the dead dog fell suddenly back, bear
Ing my pOniard with it, my freed horse
rose to its. feet, and. mad with pain,
dashed forward into the teeth of our
pursuers. 1 let him go; one might as
we'll have tried to stop the rush of
mad bull. By miracle escape being
torn off by the overhanging branches,
and as we raced into the open, Nicholas
at my heels shouting, ITO the north
to the nOrthI' we were not twenty
PAGES away from the troopers. My
frantic horse went straight at them,
and, driving my spurs home, 1 made
him leap at the foremost horseman.
His animal swerved off, piece of good
luck for both of US. Then my pistol
missed fire, and I was in the midst of
them. The quarters were so close and
the confusion so great that at first
only those on the outside could use
their weapons, and in their hurry to do
so some of these perhaps struck at each
his sword and would have run me
through had I not luckily seen the flash
of the blade and given him the heavy
irCn-bound butt of my pistol on the
forehead He was probably much hurt,
but although he lurched backward
senseless, so close was the press that
he was held in his saddle. The butt
of the pistol was broken off by the
blow, and for the moment 1 was dis
armed. 1 dared not call out to Nicholas
for fear of being recognized, but at
this juncture horse and man on my
right seemed to be dashed to earth,
and Nicholas was at my elbow, strik-
Ing right and left with the heavy hilt
Of his sword.
Profting by the relief 1 drew out
my second pistol and shot the man
before me- Pressing against his mount
with my brave little nag, who was now
In hand again, l got clear, and, with
a shout to Nicholas to follow, dashed
off towards the north. 1t was at this
moment that three other riders gal
loped up, and 1 heard de Gomeron call
out "Sangdieu! They are off-after
them, dogs" and clapping spurs to his
beast he rode after us. We had, how
ever, gained a full twenty yards start,
which was more than trebled by the
few seconds delay before the troopers
could recover themselves and follow.
My horse was going racing pace, but
COuronne kept by his side with long
and effortless stride. De Gomeron was
at our heels, and with a sudden rush
ranged alongside Nicholas. The ser
geant possibly did not recognize his
assailant, and managed somehow to
parry the cut aimed at him, and the
next moment de Gomeron's horse STUN
bled and went down, but the man him.
self who was rare horseman fell
on his feet like a cat. 1t was, however,
e moment more of respite, and Mich
olas with a wild cheer dashed into the
forest, riding recklessly through the
trees. We both leaned forward to tbs
necks of our horses, and, as far as
l was concerned, made no attempt to
guide my beast, but let him follow
Couronne, who, sure footed as a stag,
turned and twisted among the trees
with almost human forethought The
single hound that was left strained
bIaVely behind US, but mindful prob
ably Of the fate that had oVertaken,
his brother, made no direct attack
As we dashed into the wood the troop
erS attempted to follow, and every
moment we were distancing them and
their cries, shouts and curses became
fainter and more faint. I began to
think If we could but be rid of the
sleuth hound we would get away with
whole skins. The beast was, however,
not to be shaken off, and avoiding the
neelS OF the horses, came with q loD
1op through the leaves alongside my
nag, just out of reach Of the point
of my sword which 1 had managed to
draw As he snapped and growled my
horse, already once wounded, and still
smarting with pain, SHE'D off from him,
bruising my leg against a tree trunk,
In the bark Of which my spur remained,
and all but unseating me. Another
shy amongst the trees would have
finished my business, for the pain of
the bruise at the moment was eXquis-
lite, but leapiug a fallen log Nicholas
burst through q juniper bush, and nv
horse following him we came on to an
opening stretch which sloped down to
the river.
"Ouf! Out of it at lastp' 7 gasped
out to Nicholas.
''1ts a mile yet to the river, mon
sieur," he answered, slackening pace
slightly to allow me to get alongside
OF him.
The dog, however, was not yet shak-
en- off, and kept steadily beside my
horse. In the bright moon I could see
him running freely and easily; and
could not help but admire the gallant
beast. He seemed to know perfectly
the danger that lay in the long, shining
sword, that thrust out at him like a
snakes tongue whenever he came too
rear.
/. however. owed him one for the
bruiac, and it was not time to waste
IN admiring things. So I called to
Nicholas
"Slacl5en pace a little more. I want
to be rid of the dog"
I'VE can kill him in the river" an
severed the sergeant
Better stop him here" and Nicholas