The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-08

brown palmer's cloak that James Doug
las rode towards Machecoul. only
whistling low to himself. and wishing
that something would happen to break
the monotony of their journey.
Nor had he long to wait. For. Just as
the sun was setting, they rode all three
abreast into the little hamlet of St
Philbert, and saw the sullen waters or
the Etang de Grande Lieu spread
marshy and brackish, as far as the eye
could reach, edged by black peat boys
and overhung perilously by gloomy
pines nodding over pools blacker than
ScriVener'S ink.
AS the three Scots looked into. the
stockaded entrance of the village, they
could see the children playing on the
long, irregular street. and the elder folk
sitting about their doors in the even
ing light.
But as soon as the clatter of the
horses hoofs were heard, borne from
far down the aisles of the forest, there
arose q sudden clamor and a crying.
From each door rushed forth a woman
who snatched a baby here and there
and drove a little herd of children be-
fore her indoors, glancing around and
behind her as she did SO with the
anxious look of q motherly barndoor
fowl when the hawk hangs poised in
the MINDLESS sky.
By the time the three men had en-
tered the gate and ridden up the village
street all was silent and dark The Win
dowS were shut. The doors were barred
and the village had become a street of
living tOmbS.
What means this?'' said the Lord
James. 1.-THE people are surely afraid
of usi'
"'Tis doubtless but their wonted well
come to their lord, the Sieur de Retz.
He seems to be popular wherever he
goes" said Malise. grimly. But let US
diSmount and see if we can get Stabling
for our beasts. Did they not tell us
there was not another house for miles
betwiXt here and Machecoul?'
So, without waiting for dissent or
counter opinion, the master armorer
went directly up to the door of the
best appearing house in the village, one
which stood a little back from the road
and was surrounded by wall. Here
he dismounted and knocked loudly with
his sword hilt upon the outer gate. The
noise reverberated up and down the
street and was tossed back in undimin-
ished volume from the green wall of
pines which stood up about the village.
But there was no answer, and MaliSe
gre wrapidly weary of his own clamor
Hold my bridle," he said CURLY to
ShoIto, and with a single push of his
shoulders he broke the wooden bar, and
the two halves of the outer gate fell
apart before him. A great yellow dog
of the country rushed furiously at the
intrude3F, but Malise, who was as deX-
ferrous as he was powerful, received
him with so sound a. buffet on the head
that he paused bewildered, shaking his
ears, whereat Malise picked him up,
tucked him under his arm, and with
thumbs about his windpipe effectually
choked his barking. Then, releasing
him, Malise took no further notice of
this valorous enemy, and the poor,
loyal, bafIled beast, conscious of defeat,
crept shamefacedly away to hide his
disgrace among the faggots.
But Malise was growing indignant
and therefore dangerous, and i'll to
cross.
Never did I see such mannerless
folk" he growled; they VIII not even
give a stranger a word or a bite for
their beasts"
Then he called to his companions:
Come hither and speak to these era
vens, ere L break their inner doors as
well
Then at this by no means empty
threat came the Lord James and spoke
aloud in his CHEEKY voice to those with
in the silent house: Good people, we
are no robbers. but poor travellers and
strangers. Be not afraid. All we want
is that you should tell us which house
is the inn, that we may receive refresh
ment for ourselves and our horses
Then there came voice from behind
the door: There is no inn nearer than
Pornic. We are poor people, and can
not support one. We pray your high
nesses to depart in peacer'
But, good SIR answered James
Douglas, that we cannot do. Our
steeds are foot-weary with a long days