Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-10-07
CHAPTER VII.
POOR NICHOLAS.

PAGES, and never, | think, was ground
covered at speedier rate by men run
ming for their lives. was bursting
with anger, and know not what re-
strained me from pistoling Nicholas, so
furious was at the blind folly of the
man. AS we reached the horses we
could hear the dogs splashing through
the spill water at the edge of the lake,
and some one fired third shot at us
from horseback, a shot in the dark,
which whistled through the branches
overhead.
"Quick! quick! monsieur!" gasped
Nicholas, and with turn of his hand
he freed Couronne and sprang to her
back, the great mare standing steady
as rock.
"Quick!" he called out again more
loudly, and made 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
though 1t were demented.
Damn you'll" I Kissed, half at the
horse, half at the crop-eared idiot who
had caused this disaster. and, manag-
ing somehow to scramble to the saddle,
cut the halter with draw of my dag
ger. Atthis moment the dogs reached
us. dark object sprang up from the
ground, and, fastening on the jaws of
my horse, brought him to his knees,
whilst the other beasts flew at my COM
panion. Nicholas pistol rang out to
no purpose, the report was echoed by
chorus of shouts from the troopers fol-
lowing us, and Couronne, swinging
around, dashed out with her heels at
the hound that was baying her. Lean
ing forward with one arm half round
the neck of my snorting horse, 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,
u seemed of its own accord, and as the
dead dog fell suddenly back, bearing
my poniard with it, my freed horse rose
to Its feet, and, mad with pain, dashed
forward. AS we dashed into the wood
the troopers attempted to follow, but
it was with relaxed speed, and every
moment we were distancing them, and
fneir cries, shouts and curses became
fainter and more faint. Leaping a
fallen log Nicholas burst through a
juniper bush, and my horse following
him we came on to an open stretch
which sloped down to the river.
eOufl Out of it at last!" gasped
out to Nicholas,
TITS a mile yet to the river, mon
sieur," he answered, slackening pace
slightly to allow me to get alongside of
him.
The i'll will felt toward Nicholas
had gone by this time. He had borne
himself like brave man, as he was,
and, after all, If had been in his posi-
ton, l would perhaps have done the
same, and let drive at de Gomeron at
sight.
We came to narrow patch now, and
rode down this, the river being in sight,
winding, like silver ribbon thrown
carelessly down. On the opposite bank
It was overhung with willows, whose
dropping boughs swung low to the very
surface Of the water. Here and there
the stump of q felled tree stood up1ike
o sentinel. In the distance behind us
we could hear one or two of the troop
ers, who had by this time managed to
get through the wood, yelling and
shouting as they urged their horses to-
ward the river. Doubtless more would
soon follow, and 1 cursed them loudly
and heartily. Nicholas looked back.
But Is yards of swim, monsieur,
and we are safe"
Not exactly-see there!"
Ghe 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 matter of moments
only. The troopers behind were COM
ing on, and if once they reached us we
could not well hope to escape again.
Tho odds were too many. 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, gave
him the point in the center of his
breastplate, making it ring like bell.
only Q Milanese corselet could have
saved him as it did. My nag went on,
but turned on its launches to the reins.
and before he could well recover him
self was at him again and discovered
that he wore demi-mask on his iaoe.
Monsieur, shall ! prick your mash
on before killing you," ! Knocked, suit
ing the words tn a thrust that all but
eii '" ".eu the object, and ripped him on
the cheek.
He was 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
than Biron himself. Now came q seri-
Gus difficulty, which | had TO CONSIDER
like lightning. Did | 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 comprised his death. There
fore as pressed him, called out loud
enough for him to hear: Marshal, you
are mad; go back-you are known to
me-"
He thrust at me for answer, but ]
could stand no more nonsense, and, get
ting within his guard, struck him off
his horse with blow from the hilt OF