The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-02-02
CHAPTER II.
NJ DE ROME CANNOT READ A
CIPHER

Il
M. DE ROME CANNOT READ A
CIPHER.
When I reached the generals pavilion
de Rome was just mounting his horse,
a lackey standing near with n sputter-
ing torch, and his staff in little clump,
a few yards away. saluted, and he
gave me keen look, saying:
$50 you have come, NJ. d'Auriac-take
your place with the staff. will give
you your work later on-and remem-
ber."
81 am not likely to forget, NJ. lie Mar
luis," and / moved off in the direction
Indicated.
was recognized and welcomed by de
Belin, the young Tavannes, de Cosse-
Brissao, and others OF my acquaint-
hnce. / replied as best I might, but
there was no time for much talk, as
the general was moving onwar1s at
rapid pace, and we were compelled to
hllow at once. I dropped little to
the rear, to husband the strength of
NY horse as far as possible, and was
bined by another rider.
"Is that you, Belin?"
"Ma foil Yes"
81 was surprised TO find you here. I
thought you were with the archduke
md de Mayenne."
"What! have you not heard?"
"What in the devils name could /
hear on those cursed outposts?"
"Thcn in your ear-the Remois have
rome from us, and de Mayenne and the
auisard have passed over to the king
My news is certain, and the archduke
has sent cipher to de Rome bidding
him retreat at once on Amiens."
But this does not look like re-
treat"
mo; de Rome has lost the key Of the
cipher"
We both laughed, and Belin went on:
1T was droll. / saw him receive the
message, which the old fox must have
read at glance. But he turned it this
way and that, and looking at Egmont,
said as calmly as possible: Ride back
to Amiens and fetch me the key. /
have lost mine and cannot follow the
eipher'-but harki" and Belin inter
rupted himself, "there is de Rethelois'
good morning"
De Rone's voice stopped any fur
ther talk, and I spurred to his side.
"My compliments to Conde de Leyva
and ask him not to waste time splitting
ut de Rethelois-tell him to leave suf-
fcient force to hold the garrison in
check, and move across the river
towards st. Gobains-report yourself to
me at the ford"
/ galloped off, and when I reached
IRE Spaniard, whom l found with some
difficulty, discovered that he had al
ready anticipated de Rone's orders, and
had besides almost cut off sortie from
the city. There was nothing for it,
therefore, but to wish de Leyva pleas
ant day and to go on to the ford.
BY this time l had come to the out
post, and as l trotted past the thorn
hedge l saw, about so PAGES or SO to my
right, single horseman under n tSee.
His hands were tied behind him, and a
cord, which hung from branch over
head, ended in a moose secured lightly
but firmly round his neck. His position
was such that II the horse moved away
from beneath him he would hang, and
the poor wretch was absorbed in coax
ing the animal to remain steady. An
other look showed me 1t was Nicholas
the sergeant, and knowing there was
little leisure to lose II the knave was to
be saved, put spurs to my beast aud
headed towards him. was just in time
for as l started the old trooper gave a
loud neigh, fourished his heels in the
air, and galloped off towards the enemy
with his name and tail streaming In
the wind. A touch of my sword freed
Nicholas, but it was a narrow affair
and he lay gasping on the ground, and
as he lay there l noticed that his ears
had been cropped close to his head
and that the wounds were quite fresh
He recovered himself in about a min.
nte, and was about to tell me how he
came in such plight, but, sincerely
sorry as / was, had TO cut him short.
Keep the story for another day
Nicholas" / said, "and follow the ex
loyal subject, and has gone straight
back to the king"
With these words / spurred onwards
leaving Nicholas to follow my advice
or not, as he listed. had gathered
enough, however, to find out that hs
was a victim of NJ. de Gomeron's hu
NOR. Little did think, however, wher
i saved this poor fellow how amply
would be requited hereafter.
l reached the ford just before the
general, and saw that our right fanl
had already crossed the river in the dis
tance. Opposite us the Royalists ap
peared TO be in some confusion; but il
a moment they were restored to order
and moved steadily on. AS they reached
the mound whereon the royal guidor
was displayed. we heard the opening
bars of the Pont d'Audemer march, ant
as they ceased red tongue Of fam'
licked out from behind cornfeld apC
a masked battery opened on us.
CHAPTER III,