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


geant we cantered on through the
clearing toward the river.
The i'll will 1 felt toward Nicholas
had gone by this time. He had borne
himself like a brave man, as he was,
and, after all, if l had been in his posi-
ton, I would perhaps have done the
same, and let drive at de Gomeron at
sight. My little nag, however, at this
time began to show signs of distress,
and l turned my attention from the
sergeant to outstanding the poor
beasts strength-patting him on his
foam-covered neck to encourage him,
and speaking to him in the manner
that horses love. Pardieu! If men
only knew it, there are moments when
a touch of the hand and kind word
are better than four-inch spurs.
We came to a narrow patch now,
and rode down this. the river being
In sight, winding, like a silver ribbon
thrown carelessly down. On the Cp-
posite bank it was overhung with
willows, whose dropping boughs swung
low to the very surface of the water.
Here and there the stump of a felled
tree stood up like a sentinel. In the
distance behind US we could hear one
or two of the troopers, who had by
this time managed to get through the
wood, yelling and shouting as they
urged their horses toward the river.
Doubtless more would soon follow,
and cursed them loudly and heartily.
Nicholas looked back
'But fifteen yards .of swim, mon
sieur, and we are SAFE"
mot eXactly-See there!
The sergeant followed my out
stretched blade and swore, too. Right
before us two men galloped out of a
strip of coppice that stretched to the
waters edge and cut us off from the
stream.
"sacrebleu! How did they know that
cut-have at them, monsieur"
And we did.
1t had to be a matter Of moments
only. The troopers behind were conf
ing on, and, if once they reached us.
we could not we'll hope to escape again.
The odds were too many. I did not,
therefore, waste time, but went
straight for my man, and, to do him
justice. he seemed nothing loath to
meet me. He cut over the shoulder,
and, receiving this on my forte, 1
gave him the point in the center Of his
breastplate, making it ring like bell.
Only a Milanese corselet could have
saved him, as It did. My nag went
on, but turned ON it's launches to the
reinS, and before he could well re-
cover himself was at him again and
discovered that he wore a demi-mask
on his face.
Monsieur, shall I prick your mask
off before killing you," I Knocked suit
ing the words to a thrust that all but
effected the object, and ripped him on
the cheek.
He was a good swordsman, but this
made him beside himself with passion,
and this frantic state and the sound of
his voice as he kept cursing me, told
me that my opponent was none other
LII,
Gus difficulty, which I had to consider
like lightning. Did I kill him, and he
was an infant in my hands, there could
be no hope for me-he was too great
too highly placed for me to have any
chance If 1 comprised his death.
Therefore, as I pressed him, I called
out loud enough for him to hear, Mar
shall, you are mad; go back-you are
known to me-
He thrust at me for answer, but I
could stand no more nonsense, and,
getting within his guard, struck him
off his horse with blow from the hilt
of my sword and, wasting not a Sec
ond more on him, turned to the as.
SiStance of Nicholas.
1t was much needed, for the ser
geant's opponent was none other than
de Gomeron himself, who had remount-
ed after his fall, and, by cutting off a
corner, intercepted us, almost with
complete success How Nicholas held
his own against this finished swords
man for even so long a period as half
a minute, 1 am unable to say. 1t was
doubtless due to the strength of his
bitter hatred and his fury for revenge
Even as it was I was too late. AS I
dashed towards him Nicholas fairly
screamed out:
Leave me to me-he is-a-ahr'
He never finished, for dc Gomeron
saw his chance. and passed his sword
through the sergeant's throat and he
fell Imply from Couronne, a dead man,
Before, however the free lance could
recover himself, I was on him. He
parried like lightning, but the force Of
though my blade fell fiat upon his steel
cap. he went down like an OK.
Poor Nicholas WAS gone! I knew
that thrust, and once received there
was nothing for it but masses for the
soul half-doZen troopers were not
200 yards away, and life lay on the
other side of the Eure. I went straight
on, and jumped my horse into the
stream. 1t was running high and deep.
and as / fell into the water with q
splash and hiss of white foam around
me 1 heard another heavy plunge close
to my shoulder, and in the glance I
cast toward the sound, saw that it was
the now riderless Couronne, who had
followed her companion of the night.
To ease the horse [ slipped from the
saddle, and hanging on to the pommel
was toWed along by him as the good
beast breasted the stream bravely.
Pardieu! How the yellow water grumb-
led, and foamed. and dubbed around
us. The current set toward the opposite
bank, and the force of it carried US
down, 1t seemed in a moment, fully
fifty yards from the spot where he had
plunged in, to within a few feet of
the opposite shore. Here, however,
the river ran strong and swiftly, the
bank was high, and the horses could
make no Roadway, but kept drifting
down. By this time the troopers mad
reached the scene of the fight, and I
could hear them bowling with anger
as they gathered around their fallen
leaders, and without a head to guide
them, hesitated what to do; each mo-
ment Of delay giving me precious time,
and bringing me closer to a shelving
bank a few yards to the left. Not one
of the troopers dared the stream, and
they had apparently emptied their ar
quebuses after us in pursuit, for none
fired, although they called to each 9TH
er. Shoot him down-shoot him
DOWN.
A couple of men galloped down
stream little below me, and, dismount-
ing, began to load hurriedly, it being
evidently their intention to pick me off
as I drifted past. For the moment I
gave myself up for lost; but determine
ing to make last effort to save myself,
made snatch at the willows that
overhung the bank, and brushed US
with their wet and dripping leaves. as
we struggled underneath. AS did this,
I loosed my hold of the saddle, and the
horses slid past me, and I was dragged
hY the current right into the bank