The Holly chieftain., 1899-02-24
CHAPTER VII.
POOR NICHOLAS.


POOR NICHOLAS.
From the oak to the spot where our
horses were tethered was close upon so
PAGES, and never, 1 think. was ground
covered ut n speedier rate by men run
ming for their lives. l was bursting
with anger. and know not what re-
strained me from pistoling Nicholas, so
furious wns at the blind folly of the
man. AS we reached the horses we
could hear the dogs splashing through
the spill water at the edge of the lake,
and some one fred third shot at us
from horseback, a shot in the dark,
which whistled through the branches
overhead.
Quick! quick! monsieur!" gasped
Nicholas, and with a turn of his hand
he freed Couronne and sprang to her
back, the great mare standing steady
as rock.
'Quick!" he called out again more
loudly. and made vain effort to loosen
my beast, which, startled by the shots,
the baying of the dogs and our haste
and hurry, plunged and kicked as
though it were demented.
Damn you'll" l hissed, half at the
horse, half at the crop-eared idiot who
had caused this disaster, and, manaR-
ing somehow to scramble to the saddle,
cut the halter with draw of my dag
ger. At this moment the dogs reached
us, dark object sprang up from the
ground. and, fastening on the jaws Of
my horse, brought him to his knees,
whilst the other beasts flew ut my COM
panion. Nicholas pistol rang out to
no purpose. the report was echoed by a
chorus of shouts from the troopers fol-
lowing us, and Couronne, swinging
around, lashed out with her heels at
the hound that was baying her. Lean
ing forward with one arm half round
the neck of my snorting horse, thrust
twice at the hound hanging to him,
the first time sliding of his metal col
lar. but at the second blow my blade
slipped to the hilt into something soft,
l. seemed of its own accord, and as the
dead dog fell suddenly back. bearing
my poniard with 1t, my freed horse rose
to Its feet, and. mad with pain, dashed
forward. AS we dashed into the wood
the troopers attempted to follow, but
1t was with relaxed speed, and every
moment we were distancing them. and
their cries, shouts and curses became
fainter and more faint. Leapinp a
fallen log Nicholas burst through a
juniper bush, and my horse following
him we came on to an open stretch
which sloped down to the river.
"Ouf! Out OF it at last!" gasped
out to Nicholas.
"It's mile yet to the river, mon
sieur." he answered, slackening pace
slightly to allow me to get alongside Of
him.
The i'll will felt toward Nicholas
had gone by this time. He had borne
himself like brave man, as he was,
and, after all, II had been in his posi-.
ton, would perhaps have done the
same. and let drive ut de Gomeron at
sight.
| We came to a narrow patch now, and
rode down this. the river being in sight,
winding, like silver ribbon thrown
carelessly down. On the opposite bank
it was overhung with willows, whose
dropping boughs swung low to the very
surface of the water. Here and there
the stump Of felled tree stood up like
a sentinel. In the distance behind us
we could hear one or two of the troop
| ers. who had by this time managed to
get through the wood. yelling and
shouting as they urged their horses to-
ward the river. Doubtless more would
soon follow. and cursed them loudly
and heartily. Nicholas looked back.
"But Is yards of swim, monsieur,
and we are safe"
Not exactly-scc there!"
The sergeant followed my out.
stretched blade and swore, too. Right
before US two men galloped out of a
strip of coppice that stretched to the
waters edge and cut us of from the
| Ftream.
"sacrcbleu! How did they know
that cut-have at them, monsieur"
And we did.
It had to be matter of moments
only. The troopers behind were COM
ing on. and II once they reached us we
could not well hope to escape again.
The odds were too many. did not,
therefore, waste time. but went
straight for my man, and, to do him
justice, he seemed nothing loath to
meet me. He cut over the shoulder,
and. receiving this on my forte. gave
him the point in the center Of his
breastplate, making It ring like bell.
Only q Milanese corselet could have
saved him as It did. My nag went on.
but turned on its launches to the reins.
and before he could well recover him
self was at him again and discovered
that he wore demi-mask on his face.
"Monsieur, shall prick your mask
OH before killing you," Knocked. suit
ing the words to thrust that all but
effected the object. and ripped him on
the cheek.
fro p conTIWueD.I