The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-10-24
copyright, 1906. by D. Appleton & Co.
All rights reserved.l
CHAPTER XXIV.-CoNTNUED.

/ borrowed an arquebus from one OF my
men, and the arrangement was that we We're
to charge out after a volley, She first shot Of
which l was to fire. All being now ready, it
was only necessary for us to wait. l would
merely add that in order to prevent dis
covery by the ncighing of the horses, we had
muzzled ours as far as possible. There was
now a dead silence. that was only broken by
the rustic of the leaves overhead, an occa-
sional crack amongst the dry boughs as a
squirrel moved against them, or the uneasy
movement Of horse, which caused clinll
of a chain-bit, and Il straining sound made
by the feathers of the saddlery, that was not
in reality SO loud as it seemed; but caused
Jacopo and Bande Mere to scowl tierccly at
the unfortunate rider, a scowl which was
only equaled by their stolidly impressive
faces, when their own beasts snned We
had not long to wait; presently we heard
voices shouting, the clatter of horses trot-
ting, a rapid refining in at the ascent, and a
number Of followers and laclleys, some
mounted on horses, others Oh mules, with
led mules beside them, came past, and went
on, beedless Of the eager faces watching
them through the trees. One or two OF our
horses became so uneasy that l was afraid
OF immediate discovery, but SO occupied were
the knaves in babbling together, ali at once,
that what with this, and the thwackrg of
their animals, and in some cases the efforts
to remain on, we remained UnnOticed Then
there was a short interval, and the suspense
was strained TO breaking point. In a while
we heard the firm beat of a war horse hOOf
and our quarry came in view. First came
Monsignore Bozardo, a tall, thin man,
wrapped in & purple cloak, with a fur cap
on his head. He rode a strong ambling
mule, and by his side was 4he commander of
the escort. Immediately behind were four
troopers, then the mules with the ducats,
behind these again six othgr lances whilst
the rear was brought up by half-a-dozen
lackeys, without sword amethyst them. But
what struck me almost dumb with surprise
was that the leader of the escort was none
ether than D'Entrangues himself. There
could be no mistake, his visor was up, and
saw the sallow face the long red mustache,
and almost caught the cold CLINT of his cruel
eye. At last! raised my arquebus and
covered him. At last! But a touch Of my
finger and the man was dead. | could not
miss, my heart was mad within me, but my
wrist was firm as steel. In another moment
he would be dead, dead, and my revenge ac-
complished. 1t was already in my hand. l
breathless faces watching me, then back
again to the muzzle of my weapon. Den
trangues was now not % yards away
could scarcely breathe as l pointed the ar
Quebus at his heart. / had already begun
TO press the trigger, when something seemed
to come across my mind like lightning
saw IN a moment that lonely room in the Al
bizzi palace, where | had kneeled TO my God
Nd 70 mt do ho
weapon shook in my grasp.
Fire, signore," whispered JacopO hoarsely.
With an effort l jerlled the muzzle in the
air, and pulled the trigger. The report was
followed by four others, and two of the
troopers fell. The next moment we were on
them with shout, and there was clash Of
steel, as fierce blows were struck and re-
ceived, now and again a short angry oath,
and sometimes cry of pain. l did not want
to take life, but a trooper came at me, so /
had to run him through the heart, and the
mar fell forward under Castors hoofs. with
a yell | shall never forget, The next instant
D'Entrangues and | crossed blades, and
whether he recognized me or not | do not
know, but he fought with skill and fierce
ness / have never seen equaled. At last
lost my temper, and cut savagely at him. He
parried on the forte of his blade, but so
furious was the stroke that it broke the
weapon in his hand, and almost endorsed
him. Refining back skillfully he avoided an
other cut / made at him, and drawing a
wheel lock pistol from his holster, fired it
straight at me. At the fash, some one
dashed between us. heard a scream which
froze the blood in me, and body lurched
forward and fell to my side, whilst rider
less horse plunged through the press, and
galloped away | saw the light of the golden
head as it fell, and forgetting everything,
forgetting D'Entrangues, forgetting all but
the fact that a dreadful deed was done,
sprang down from Castor, and raised st.
Armande in my arms. As | did this hoarse
yell from my men told me the day was Won
but had no ears for this, no eyes for any
thing, except the slight figure, which lay in
my arms gasping out its life.
Congratulations, signore, we have taken
the LOT" and Jacopo, bleeding and dusty,
rode up beside me.
cat too great price, groaned; "help
me to carry" could say no more.
Here, two of you secure those mules
Bande Mere, see to the wounded-Queen of
Heaven-the chevalier-" and Jacopo, Civ
ing his sharp orders, sprang down beside me,
and together we bore our unconscious bur-
den under the shadow of the oaks. A dark
figure stepped to our side, and kneeling
down supported the lifeless head on his arm,
whilst hot tears fell from his eyes, as he
prayed over her. 1t was the able.
''How did this happen" 1 asked, "did l
not say you we're not to move"
''It was done at once" he answered, 81
could not prevent it-alas! How can carry
this tale back to st. Armande!'
water, excenency."
Jacopo bad brought some clear water in
ibis helmet / thanked him with a look, and
he stepped back, leaving us three together,