The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-01-26

with curling lip, cast glance around
the room.
III DO not see the prisoners" said de
Rome, quietly.
IL was not likely, thought to my
self. They were gone-not doubt Of
that. On the floor, near my feet, were
some cut cords, and, lying on them,
knot of black and white ribbon. that
had fallen there as II by chance. had
seen II last at the shoulder of madame's
dress, and something told me il was not
there by accident. There was, at any
rate, no hope for me from the prisoners,
but a sudden impulse | could not under
stand urged me to get the knot of rib
bon, so. STOPPING low, | picked up the
bow and the cut cords, and, with
careless movement, flung the latter on
the table, saying quietly: "They have
escaped, your eXcellency."
"And with them your explanation, NJ.
d'Auriac, eh? Corbleul But the camp
marshal will have his hands full TO-
morrow" and Nicholas halberd ell but
| fell from his hands as 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 10
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 rs 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 n dash for IL, chevalier, and
change the flag"
| 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 splasked through the ford
of the Disc, half mile from the out
post. On the other bank a picket chal-
leneed, and, giving them the word, we
rode in the direction of camp. \ 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
| 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, NJ. dAuriacT
ut could not be helped, your excel
lency," l stammered.
"You said that of De Gonnor, and
promised it should never occur agoin-'
; "But there were circumstance"
"Pshaw!" he exclaimed, 81 guess
them Observation-Disclosures One ot
, the prisoners was woman. i saw yol
pick up that knot of ribbon. There i:
no excuse. None"
"I had the honor to be the first mar
behind your exceilency at the storm o
Laon," L said, with a happy recollec
I ton.
"And saved my life, you were goinl
to say" he cut in. | bowed, and d'
Rome began again to pace up and down
Juggling at his short-pointed beard.
"See here, / will pay my debt; bu
first ask if l have your parole not t.
attempt escape. If you do not give it
and he laid his hand on call-bell, witt
an inquiring look towards me.
81 will not attempt escape"
"Then you will not have to complain
of the Justice of de Rome. Tomorrow
some things will happen, and amongs
them will be the lamented death of tn
Sieur d'Auriac. This much / will tel
you. Tomorrow the king and NEE
once more-and you must die on tn
field. Win or lose, if l catch you aliv
:. at the close of the day, / will hang 20
as high as Haman; and now go !"
E, My first thought on leaving de Ron
t. was to make my way direct to the quar-
n tiers of the staff, where felt sure {
4. welcome and accommodation for tn
is rest of the night. AS | came near (
d them saw light streaming from th
lie partly open door of the largest ten
y and from within burst a chorus {
is voices singing an old chanson {
g Guienne.
te The last line was repeated amidi
e peals of laughter, followed by II
10 crashing of glass. 1t was enough fc
re me. l was in no mood for any furthC
rs folly, or any more d'Arbois, and r.
70 solved TO make the best of ii in the opel
T. as at this hour it was worse than us
e. less TO attempt to find my lacke
lie Jacques, whom had left behind in II
III camp with my belongings when wei
I'd on to the outposts. lettering my hor'
p to a stump, removed the saddle, whic
|: | made shift to use as a cushion, an
'e leaning my back against it, was soc
as comfortable as circumstances wou
a permit. My sleep could not have lastC
MS much more than an hour; but so pr
ne found was il that ages seemed to ha'
in passed when / awoke with a start, ar
g, the consciousness of movement arour
I'd me. The moon was on the wane; but
IL saw that the camp was astir, and tn
he the men were being mustered as silen
Is ly as possible.
eu $50 things are about TO happen,
faid to myself, recalling de Rome
4 4.