The Holly chieftain., 1899-01-20

steps brought us to the door Of the hut.
A other step took US in, and de Rome,
with 9 curling lip. cast glance around
the room.
II do not see the prisoners" )" said do
Rome. quietly.
II was not likely. thought to my
self. They were gone-not doubt Of
that On the hoor. near my feet, were
some cut cords, and. lying on them, .
knot Of black and white ribbon, that
had fallen there al II by chance, had
seen It last at the shoulder of u.dame's
dress, and something told me IL was not
there by accident. There was. 1T any
rate, NO hope for me from the prisoners.
but sudden impulse could not under
stand urged me to get the knot Of rib
bon. 80. stopping low. picked up the
bow and the cut cords. and, with
careless movement. flung the latter on
the table. saying quietly: They hove
escaped, your excellency..
"And with them your explanatio NJ.
d'Auriac, eh? Corbleui But the camp
marshal will have his hands full to,
morrow" and Nicholas halberd all but
I.fell from his hands rs the generals eye
rested on him. De Rome went on. IN.
de Gomeron, you have given me rea-
son for your conduct that will hold
good this once. Further orders will
reach you at daylight about your neg
lect of your prisoners. As for you,"
and he turned on me with the sharp
command, Follow me. You-knaves!
fetch me my horse-he is tethered to
the clump of elms to the right there"
Two men vanished from the door to
do his bidding, and took the oppor-
tunity to secrete the knot Of ribbon.
In a minute or SO we heard the sound
of horses hoofs. and as we went out.
saw there were two beasts at the door,
and. from the whinny of welcome that
came to me, that one was mine, and
Nicholas was at his head.
As sprang into the saddle the good
fellow leaned forward and whispered:
MAKE dash for it chevalier. and
change the flag"
l shook my head and followed de
Rome, who had already moved few
PAGES onwards. And yet, as rode on,
Nicholas words came back to me with
an insistent force.
"Gallop!"
De Rone's sharp command broke the
thread of my thoughts, and ended all
chance Of escape. We set spurs to our
horses and splashed through the ford
of the Disc, half mile from the out
post. On the other bank picket chal-
lenged, and, giving them the word. we
rode in the direction of camp. A few
strides more and we reined in at the
door of the generals tent. The guard
presented arms and received brief
order to dismount and follow de Rome.
l entered the tent, and stood patient
ly whilst he walked backwards and for
wards for little time. Suddenly he
stopped and, facing me, said:
"Well, M. d'Auriac?"
"It could not be helped, your excel
lency," stammered.
"You said that Of De Gonnor, and
promised it should never occur again"
but there were circumstances-"
"Pshawl" he exclaimed, II guess
them ali--wine-dice-women. One Of
the prisoners was woman. l saw you
pick up that knot Of ribbon. There is
no excuse. None"
II had the honor to be the first man
behind your excellency at the storm of
Laon." I said, with happy recollec-
tion.
"And saved my life, you were going
- ~ - - In, Il MI Ia
Rome began again to pace up and down,
tugging at his short-pointed beard.
'.See here, will pay my debt; but
first ask II have your parole not to
attempt escape. If you do not give it,
and he laid his hand on call-bell, with
an inquiring look towards me.
II will not attempt escape"
"Then you will not have to complain
OF the Justice OF de Rome. Tomorrow
some things will happen, and amongst
them will be the lamented death Of the
Sieur d'Auriac. This much will tell
you. Tomorrow the king and meet
once more-and you must die on the
field. Win or lose, II I catch you alive
at the close Of the day, will hang you
a. high as Haman; and now CO."
My first thought on leaving de Rome
was to make my way direct to the quar-
ters Of the staff, where ! felt sure Of
welcome and accommodation for the
rest of the night. AS came near to
them I saw light streaming from the
partly open door Of the largest tent,
and from within burst chorus Of
voices singing an old chanson of
Guienne.
The last line was repeated amidst
pcals Of laughter. followed by the
craahing Of glass. It was enough for
me. was in no mood for any further
folly. or any more d'Arbois, and re-
solved to make the best of itin the open,
as at this hour It was worse than use
less to attempt to find my lackey
Jacques, whom had left behind du the
camp with my belongings when went
on to tho outposts. lettering my horse
to stump. removed the saddle, which
I made shift to use az cushion. and.
leaning my back against it, was soon
as comfortable as circumstances would
permit. My sleep could not have lasted
much more than an hour; but SO pro-
found was 1t that ages seemed to have
passed when I awoke with start, and
the consciousness Of movement around
me. The moon was on the wane; but l
saw that the camp was astir, and that
the men were being mustered as silent
ly as possible.
$50 things are about to happen" I
raid to myself, recalling de Rone's