Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-07-19
4 WARD Of The KING.
BY
KATHARINE s. MACQUoID,
Author of 'Maisie Derrick THE Story
of Lois" Patty Louisa AT
the Red Glove" Miss Eyon
of Eyoncourt," &C.
(Copyright.)
Continued from Yesterdays Issue.)
CHAPTER XIV.

| Sf1Af lEh AAt.
THE CROSSING OF THE RHONE.
The Constable and his faithful friend
had acted wisely in leaving the house
On foot, for the sound of horses would
! have reached Laval's ears as he APP
! preached the inn Muffled in their dark
: riding cloaks, the two fugitives moved
on swiftly in the darkness till they
reached the first little hamlet beyond
, the hill. They paused at the door Of
a larger cottage than the rest.
| Their arrival was evidently expect
| ed. The woman who opened the door
! TO them no sooner saw the Dukes tall
| figure than she turned to the lad behind
| her.
Bring out the horses, Desire" she
! said, but not to the front; the mes
| sleurs will mount In the yard. Start
| one off some minutes before the other;
| that one"-she pointed TO Bourbon
must take the road on the right, the
other the lane that leads left; they will
meet at the fork by the water trough
: outside the village"
| She moved aside that the new-cCm-
ers might enter the house, she did not
| speak to them, but as the Duke passed
| her on his way to the back door, she
| knelt down and pressed the hem of his
cloak to her lips
In the yard were two horses, bridled
and saddled. Desire held up lantern
| he had taken from the stables, and
| Bourbon saw that they were powerful
/ O M; MI ole not nj nf ary,,nl r
was round their chests. The lad who
held them did not look at the Duke,
but when Monsieur DE Pomperant had
held his companions stirrup, and then
had vaulted into his own saddle, Desire
pressed close to him and whispered;
Monsieur will find provisions for
two days in the saddle bags. viva la
justice!"
De Pomperant smiled kindly.
Il thank you, friend. When next we
| meet, matter may have changed. | will
not forget you, Desire
A hoarse whisper came in answer.
MY lord must beware. The Rhone
is closely guarded as far down as VAL
ence; there is no safe passage this side
of Vienne"
1--WE loiter!" the Duke cried. Come
on" and he rode away.
De Pomperant also set spurs to his
horse, and galloped on alone till he
reached the water trough; then the two
fugitives rode on together for some
hours. Just as a faint glimmer showed
itself in the east, they were challenged
By a sentinel on the banks Of the
Rhone. They were some way from
the river and it was still too dark for
recognition, so haZarding a cry OF "Vive
le Roll" the fugitives rode on, and the
sentinel took no further heed OF them.
I'VE are close to the river said
Bourbon. "Why should we not risk
passage? Vienne Is a long way of,
and it is close to Lyons and the camp"
Pardon me, my lord, but are we not
safer near the enemy? | have been
told that the Rhone is watched as far
down as Valence; no one would look
for us at Vienne Once across the
bridge of Vienne, a good road leads us
into Dauphiny, whereas, so far as re-
member hereabouts, On the eastern
bank are marshes, without any road
across them. The bridge at st. Waller
is known to be guarded; that challenge
makes me think it is c.ose by. Shall
we not keep further away? We might
hide in some wood till evening, rest
our horses and recruit ourselves How
say you, my lord?'
Have 1t as you will Bourbon an
swered IF there were more light
would risk the ford; there used to be
one at ST. Rambert, which cannot be
much further"
Il learnt at ST. Bonnet that the
stream is greatly swollen" said De
Pomperant THE Rhone has ever
shown herself a turbulent stream to
those who brave her.
"Foi de Prince" the Duke exclaimed,
pursuit is more dangerous than the
stream, I wish that instead Of flying,
and leaving that dear child to the mer-
cies of Laval | had stood my ground
and fought it out with him"
mo, no, my lord; Mother Tarbes
whispered me that Laval's swashbuck-
Ter, Gaspard, was at hand, and could
readily summon a score or two of cut
threats from the pot-house below the
hill"
so"
The Duke rode on in moody silence
towards the wood which De Pomperant
pointed out. They stayed under rs
shelter till evening fell; then they
again rode on along rough and diff
cult road, at some little distance from
the river.
Day was breaking when they ap-
preached Vienne. They now rode very
carefully, believing that the bridge
| would be guarded. They were still at
some distance from the bridge when
De Pomperant saw on the western
bank Of the stream small cabaret,
and near it a ferry-boat, seemingly
made fast to a post on the river bank.
Look. my lord" he said. there is a
ferry-boat."
AS they approached it, some soldiers
came laughing out of the cabaret, and
began to descend the river bank. The
two fugitives refined in their horses and
waited. fearing they might be observed
by the soldiers.
The men, however. seemed to be only
| concerned with the ferry-boat and its
| fastenings; they soon went up the
bank and back to the cabaret.
Now, may heaven be praised," said
De Pomperant, ''the fellows have gone
back to their wine; let US secure the
| ferry-boat without the loss of a mo-
| ment.'
They quickly dismounted. and left
| their tired horses to shift for them
selves; De Pomperant unfastened the
chain which secured tie boat and
irtn hui pnurha- 4