Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02
CHAPTER w.
How POmpOn Saved n Queen.

There are times when thought and action
have to move together like lightning. when,
if there is but a flicker Of halt or hesitation
the result is disaster, and If ever such a
moment had come to me 1t had arrived
now.
1 thank God that, notwithstanding the
tumult in my heart, / kept my head clear
and my nerve steady in the crisis before
me. 1t is true held great card. No one
suspected me, except, perhaps, dAramon.
and he was quoted. Not the most sus-
picious eye would turn on lie Brusquet the
kings jester, as being in any way involved
in q court intrigue, and i was safe from
hindranCe on that score; even Crequy, and
he was no fool, had let me pass with a
jest.
l could not help chuckling little to my
self at this, as, picking Pompon up,
crossed the road to the opposite side, where
the shadows lay dark on the pavement One
look behind me-the archers were still at
Lorgnac'S dOOr-and then | put myself to
the run y few steps brought me to mar
row side street that went off at an angle
nom the road. heading back to the cross
roads where Barous shop lay, close to
Lorgnac's house. Immediately behind the
shop was Cartouche's stable. and from the
stable there was a chance, a bare chance,
to free my birds. l knew the way per-
fectly, for | had used it as a short cut a
hundred times on my visits to Lorgnac
when he lay i'll, in the spring, Of a tertian
ever, how one stepped in this nameess
alley, for the slime of ages covered the
cObbestOnes beneath the feet, and there
was no footpath. Indeed, so narrow was
the passage that, by stretching ones arms
out, it was possible to touch the houses on
either hand. | made all the haste l could
and at last reached Barou's shop. Barou
himself was closing for the night as l came
up, and [ caught a glimpse of his lean fig
ure, hesitating at the door, in the hope,
perhaps, that 1 might prove a customer.
passed quietly on, taking no notice of him.
lie peered after me for a moment, and then
his door shut with bang, and the old man
went in. like a spider disappointed of his
fly.
Two steps more and 1 at the stable.
If Lorgnac's ready wit had not thought
of the key, all would have been lost; but
as it was, the key was in my hand. In
another moment l had opened the door
and stepped in, shutting it carefully behind
me. A lantern, swinging to a chain at
tached to n crOssbeam, was burning bright
ly in the stable. and in the stall before me
was a magnificent gray horse with a lofty
crest and bright, full eyes, that looked
down upon me like two stars. 1t was Car
touche. and he was already saddled
though the girths hung loosely around him
He knew me. for we We're old friends and
tossing his head up and down, began to
I strike at the flooring with his forefoot,
and whinny. 1 patted his sleek neck and
looked around. Near me was some stable
gear. To the right there a loft, and
open. for the night was warm. ladder
! led to the loft, and up this l climbed Pom
pom at my heels, and, passing through the
window, found myself on the roof of
Barou's store. On either hand the gables,
with their lily-shaped finals, hid me from
view, and l was. in short, on the backbone
OF the roof. About twenty feet from me
! rose the back of Lorgnac's house. high and
narrow. From window in the second
story there was bright light and caught
Silmpse OF a shadow on the wall. 1 crept
up beneath the window and looked 1t was
Impossible to reach it, and I dare not raise
my voice Every Goment was precious
and with a groan 1 glanced about for some
means of ascent, and as 1 did so, Pompon
began TO Chamber up the grooved brick
waterway, which terminated on a narrow
| ledge of ornamental stonework running
round the house. Above this ledge how
| ever. gargoyle in the shape of a griffin's
| head, leered down al me. A sudden thought
struck me, and l seized the ape ere he
could go further. Back 1 ran, with the
| quick, stealthy footsteps of a cat and
| dropped down into the saddle once more.
| Hastily, and with shaking hands, l ex-
ahmed the stable gear, throwing one thing