The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1899-10-20
CHAPTER v.


CHAPTER v.
D'ENTRANGUES SCORES A POINT.
Before had gone fifty PAGES, however, l
became aware that there was some law left
iii Montevarchi, for warning cry made me
look over my shoulder, and saw party of
the city guards, who had discreetly kept out
If the way when Brico and crossed swords,
hurrying towards Inc. The same glance,
showed me that the ancient was already in
their hands, and was being dragged along
with but little regard to his comfort; and
felt sure that now, as the troop was gone,
the citizens would wreak their vengeance on
this hen-roost robber, and he would be
lucky if he escaped with life. AS for me,
the catchpolls being out, they. no doubt rea-
soned that they might as well net me. To
stop and resist would only result in my be-
ing ultimately overpowered, and perhaps
imprisoned; to yield without blow meant
very much the same thing, and, in the shake
of a brakes tail, resolved to run, and to
trust for escape to my turn for speed. So
set off at my roundest pace, followed by the
posse, and the rabble. who but a moment
before were cheering me. 8
None than once felt inclined to turn, and
end the matter for myself; but the fact that
this might mean laying aside all chance OF
settling D'Entrangues urged me to my best
efforts. Some fool made an attempt to stop
me, and l was compelled to slash him across
the face with my sword, as warning not to
interfere with matters with which he had
no concern. l hardly knew where / was
going; but dashed downya little by-street,
and was, after hundred yards, brought to
halt by dead wall. / could barely reach
the top of it with my bare hands, but
luckily this was enough TO all me to draw
myself up, and drop over to the other side
just as the police reached within ten feet
of me. l did not stop to take note of their
action, but was off as soon as my feet
touched the ground, and found to my
Joy that / was close to one of the I'm
repaired breaches in the city wall, made six
months ago by Tremouille's cannon.
Throughtthis rushed, and, scrambling down
slope Of broken stone and mortar, found
/ would be compelled to climb down very
nearly hundred feet of what looked like the
face of O rock, before l could reach level
ground. There was not even a goat track.
My agility was, however, spurred on by hear
ing shouts behind me, and preferring to risk
death in attempting the descent rather
than fall into the hands of messer the po-
desta, CHANGED the venture, and, partly by
holding on to the tough broom roots, partly
slipping, and aided by Providence and Our
Lady of San Spirito, to whom l hurriedly
cast up . prayer, l managed to reach the
bottom, and fell, exhausted and breathless,
into cistus hedge.
I was too beaten to 60 another yard, and,
had my pursuers only followed UP, must
have become an easy prey. As it was heard
them reach the breach, where they came to
| a stop, all shouting and babbiing at the
same time. One or two, holder than the
| others, attempted to descend the ledge oil
ness damped their courage. They, however
succeeded in loosening some Of the debris
so that it fell over the cliff, and a few of the
| stones dropped very close to me; but BY
| good hap escaped, or else this never would
have been written. One great block, indeed
| just passed over my head, and vowed an
| altar-pieee to Our Lady Of San Spirito
| who alone could have diverted that whicI
/ was coming straight to my destruction; and
| may add duly kept my word. After q
time the voices above began to grow fainter
and to my delight / found that the citizens
| thinking it impossible should have escapel
like . lizard amongst the rocks, were bark
ing back, and ranging to the right and left
| ] waited until all sound died away, and eau
tiously peeped out. The coast was clear.
l OdO TecOveISu NY WIuOs oAu, WAtAOOs AAOA'
waste of time, / rose and pressed on in tn,
direction of the hills, determined to chanc'
no further adventures near the towns. In
deed, had crowded more incident into tn
past few hours than into the previous five
and thirty years of my life. and my sole oh
ject, at present, was to reach Florence
without further let or hindrance.
Keeping the vineyards between me ant
the town, avoided all observation, and
at a small wayside inn, filed wallet which
purchased with food and bottle of tn
rough country wine, 90 that there might b
no necessity for my visiting human habita
ton during the remainder of my journey
With the wallet swung over my shoulder, Al
hour or 20 later j was ascending the slope
Of Mount st. Michele, cursing the fallen pin
needles, which made my foothold 20 clipper
that / aid rather than walked.
Il was late in the evening before halte
and ate my dinner under an ovefhangin