The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-08-22

sky. Only a narrow open space-the
foreshore-separateG me from the wa
ter; beyond which l could see an ir
regular line of buildings, that no doubt
formed the Faubourg St. German.
1 had been told that l should find
stairs leading down to the water, and
boats moored at the foot of them, at
this point Accordingly l walked quick
~ across the open space to a spot,
where | made out a couple of posts set
up on the brink-doubtleSs to mark the
| landing place.
| had not gone ten PAGES, however.
out of the shadow, before l CHANGED to
| look around, and dscerned With an UNI
! pleasant eerie feeling three figures de-
! tach themselves from it, and advance
| in q row behind me, so as the better to
cut Off my retreat | was not to sue
coed in my enterprise too easily. then
/ That was clear. Still l thought it bet
ter to act as if / had not seen my fol-
lowers. and collecting myself, I walked
as quickly as l could down to the steps.
! The three were by that time close upon
me-within striking distance almost.
l turned abruptly and confronted them.
| who are you, and what do you
| want?' / said, cycling them Warily, my
! hand on my sword
| They did not answer, but separated
more widely, so as to form Il half cir
| Gle; and one of them Whistled. On the
| instant a knot of men started out of
the line of houses, and came quickly
across the strip of light towards us.
The position seemed serious. If
could have run. indeed-but ] glanced
round. and found escape in that fashion
impossible. There We're men crouching
on the steps behind me, between me
and the river. | had fallen into "a
| trap, Indeed, there was nothing for it
now but to do as madame had hidden
me- and play the man boldly. l had
the words still ringing in my veins to
give nerve and daring. ! folded my
arms and drew myself up.
"knaves!" | said. With as much quiet
contempt as l could muster you mis-
take me. You do not know whom YOU
have to deal with. Get me boat, and
let two of you row me across. Hinder
me, and your necks shall answer for it
or your backs!
A laugh and an oath of derision
formed the only response, and before
I could add more the larger group ar
rived, and joined the three.
WHO is it, PIERCE" asked one Of
these in a matter-of fact way which
showed l had not fallen amongst mere
| thieves.
The speaker seemed to be the leader
of the band. He had a feather in his
under his cloak. when some one held up
a lanthorn to examine me the better.
His trunk-hose We're striped with black
white and green-the livery as
learned afterwards of monsieur the
| kings brother, the duke of Anjou aft
erwards Henry the Third; then a closo
friend of the duke of Guise, and later
his murderer.
The captain spoke with foreign &C.
cent, and his complexion was dark to
swarthiness. His eyes spar1led and
flashed like black beads. 1t was easy
to see that he was an Italian.
"A gallant young cock enough" the
soldier who whisted answered mot
quite of the breed we expected He
held his lanthorn toward me and point
ed to the white badge on my sleeve
1t strikes me we have caught crow
instead of a pigeon!'
How comes this?" the italian asked
harshly, addressing me. WHO are you :?
And why do you wish to cross the river
at this time Of night young sir?"
l acted on the inspiration Of the mo-
ment. Play the man boldly" madame
had said. l would; and I did with a
vengeance. 1 sprang forward and
Selling the captain by the clasp of his
cloak, shook him violently, and flung
him off with all my force, so that he
reeled. "Dog!" 1 exclaimed, advanc-
ing, as If 1 would seize him again
Learn how to speak to your betters.
Am to be stopped by such sweepings
as you? Hark we, l am on the king S
service!"
He fairly spluttered with rage. More
like the deVils!" he exclaimed pro-
nouncing his words abominably and
fumbling Vainly for his weapon
Kings service or no service you do
not insult Andrea Pallavincini!'
could only vindicate my daring by
greater daring, and 1 saw this even as,
death staring me in the face, my heart
seemed to stop. The man had his mouth
open and his hand raised to give an
order which would certainly have sent
Anne de Caylus from the world, when r
cried, passionately-it was my last
chance, and I never wished to live
more strongly than at that moment
I cried passionately: Andrea Pallavi-
cini if such be your name, look at that,
Look at that" 1 repeated, shaking my
open hand with the ring on it before
his face, land then hinder me- If you
dare! Tomorrow, If you have quarter
ings enough, 1 will see to your quarrel!
Now send me Gn my way or your fate
be on your own head! Disobey--ay, G5
but hesitate-and | will call on the6a
very men of yours to cut you DOWN.
1t was a bold throw, for I staked all
on talisman Of which / did not know
the value! To me it was the turn of a
die. for l had had no leisure to look at
the ring, and knew no more than a babe
whose it was. But the venture was as
happy as desperate.
Continued Next Week.)