The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-12-03
CHAPTER ".
How Pompon Saved a 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 dis
aster; and. if ever such moment had
come to me it had arrived now.
l 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 a great
card. No one suspected me, except,
perhaps, d Aramon. and he was quiet
ed. Not the most suspicious eye would
turn on LIE Brusquet, the kings jester.
as being in any way involved in a
court intrigue. and / was safe from
hindrance on that Ecore; even Creluy,
and he was no fool,i had let me pass
with jest.
! could not help chuckling a little to
myself at this, as. picking Pompon up,
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. A few
steps brought me to a narrow side
street that went off at an angle from
the road, heading back to the cross
roads where Barou's shop Law, close to
Lorgnac's house. Immediately behind
the shop was Cartouche'S stable. and
HUH Int SldDlt NdS d cIlduct, d
bare chance, to free my birds. j knew
the way perfectly, for l had used it as
a short cut hundred times on my Wis
its to Lorgnac when he lay i'll, in the
spring, of tertian ague. 1t was neces-
sarv to be careful. however, how one
stepped in this naaaeless alley. for the
slime of ages covered the cobblestoneS
beneath the feet, and there was 10
foOtpath. Indeed, SO narrow was the
passage that, by stretching ones arms
out, it was possible to touch the houses
on either hand. 1 made al the haste L
could, and at last reached Rarou's
shop. Barou himself was closing for
the might a l came up, and / caught a
glimpse of mis- lean figure, hesitating at
the door. in the hope. perhaps, that L
might prove a customer. / passed
quickly on, taking no notice of him.
He peered after me for a. moment, and
then his door shu. with bang. and
the old man went in, like a spider dis
appointed Of his fly.
Two steps more, and | was 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 / had cpened
the door and stepped in. carefully shut
ting it behind me- a lantern, swinging
to chain attached to a crossbeam,
was burning brightly in the stable, and
in the stall before me was magnificent
gray horse. with a lofty crest and
bright. full eyes that looked down VI on
me Ike two stars. 1t was Cartouche,
and he was already saddled, though tie
girths hung loosely around him. He
knew me, for we were old friends, and.
tossing his head up and down, began to
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 was a
loft, and above that a small window,
which was open, for the night was
warm. A ladder led to the loft, and up
this / climbed, Pompon at my heels.
and. passing - ough the window, found
myself on the roof of Barou's store.
on either hand the gables, with their
y-shaped finals, hid me from lew,
and | was. in short, on the backbone of
the roof. About twenty feet from ne
rose the back of Lorgnac's house, high
and narrow. From a window in the
second story there was bright light,
and 1 caught a glimpse of a shadow on
the wall. crept up beneath the window
and looked. 1t was impossible to
reach it, and l dare not raise my
voice. Every moment was precious, and
with a groan / glanced about for some
means OF ascent, and, as did so, Pom
pom began 10 Chamber up the grooved
brick waterway, which terminated on
a narrow ledge of ornamental stone
work running around the house. Above
this ledge, however. gargoyle, in the
shape of a griffin's head, leered down
at me. A sudden thought struck me.
and seized the ape ere he could go
further. Back ] ran. with the quick,
stealIhy footsteps of cat. and dropped
down into the stable once more. Has
tily, and with shaking hands. exam
med the stable gea~, throwing one thing
after another aside. and at last | found
what ] sought-a spare halter. o, those
seconds when l fuInbled there in the
stable, They were as hours. ] snatched
up the halter with an exclamation of
joy. and in less time than 1 take to tell
this. was once more beneath the win;
dow. Here il was Pompon's turn. and /
thanked my stars again and again for
the months l had spent in teaching the
ape to do almost anything / wished. l
xnotted one .end of the halter into a
moose. and, giving 1t to Pompon, placed
him where he had climbed to at first,
and. with a little wave of my hand,
said: up. Pompon. Up"
Without a moments hesitation he
climbed to the ledge. / watched the
small black figure looking down on me
with little twinkling eyes, the halter.
held by the, moose. in its hands. / made
L motion OF nv hand toward the gar
goyie; but the ape only jibbered, and
the cold sweat burst over me, for l
was sure [ heard in the distance the
sound of MANY horses trotting. Too
ate,,. After all, this, 1t could not be,
Again and again I tried to make the