The St. Louis Republic., 1901-11-17

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beating very fast and thick. and answered
| Would the reply come? Yes. after a min
ute Of excruciating anxiety. | was sure my
signal was heard, and few minutes later
two dark figures emerged from the copse-
wood. and came across the pallid snow to
! me, and. as they neared me, to my infinite
joy one was Syivestre himself.
. "oh, sylvestre," l sobbed. THANK God,
thank God! sylvestre. Monsieur Pierre has
been betrayed. He is lying hurt in the
dungeon of the chateau, in the Oubiiette.
sylvestre. can you get rope? Some one
must go down and bring him up"
yves" said Sylyestre. turning to one OF
his comrades. run back like hare to the
camp. and get the long cord. and ask
George and jean 10 come to the chateau
/ as quick ever they can. Now, Madenoi-
selle. show me where Monsieur Pierre Is"
We went back. telling syivestre what
had happened. as we made our way down
the moat and through the great hall. We
found Gabrielle Laurence kneeling there
still holding the lantern over the opening.
THE light will Cheer him. she said.
glancing up as We approached.
Pierre" called down. Pierre. courage
mon ami. help is coming"
A faint sound came back, half inarticu-
late. think 1t was Thank God!''
OH but It seemed a long time to wait.
the minutes seemed like hours, and 1t was
deathly cold. stayed by the oublette.
but Sylvestre and Madame Laurence busted
themselves in kindng a fire in the great.
hall, with some broken wood that Sylvestre
found somewhere.
At last, at last, came the sound of hur-
rying feet, and six or seven men came into
the tower, two or three with torches. and
others carrying ropes.
Then Sylvestre fixed a cord round his
body, and. with another curled over his
shoulder. and carrying the candle in one
hand, he was let gently down by his com
rades into the horrible pit. whose opening
yawned dark now in the glare Of the ruddy
torchlight.
We heard Sylvestre utter an exclamation
as he reached the bottom of the Oublie.te.
and then there was silence. broken only by
some faint mutterings, whose meaning we
could not distinguish.
Then we heard him shout to us to throw
down the old rug which had been found in
the hall. Th-s was done, and then there
was silence broken only by the faint sounds
of voices. and presently Sylvestres voice
again bidding the men begin hoist up the
rope. but very slowly and cautiously.
They did SO, and / stood breathless.
watching. waiting. till slowly. slowly.
something came in sight, white face and
two white hands. feebly guarding against
the edges Of the opening, and at last the
man drew Pierre up. and with kindly grasp
lifted him cautiously and carried him into
the hail and laid him as gently as possible |
on the old mattress which Sylvestre had |
found and spread before the great fire. now |
blazing brightly on the old hearth. Now at |
first as he lay there. thought he was |
dead. but in truth he had only tainted with |
pain and exhaustion.
"sylvestre.'' 1 said. for the brave fellow |
was up again now. "can you send one of |
your men into the town to fetch the doc
tor. or will you be afra:dT'
''Oh. yes: but he grows old: he loves not |
to come out at night
IF MademoiseIle will trust me-" said syi- !
vestre. little shyly. II will set Monsieur
Pierre's leg better than old Lemaitre"
You, Sylvestreg'
"I, Mademoiselle. I have set many leg
and arm; for the old blacksmith taught me.
and he knew more about bones than all the
DOCTORS put togetner And IL VIII De Detter
done at once"
So the clever fellow set to work. after
shaping some splints with his sharp knife.
while we tore up a ragged old sheet we had
found for bandases. Pierre's leg was soon
set and bound up.
An old peasant woman. fetched from
some cottage near, had brought little pot
of SOUP She warmed 1t up over the fire,
and, after We had fed Pierre with few
spoonfuls. he dropped asleep. Sylvestre and
sat down to watch him, while Mere Cou-
ton nodded in the chimney corner. while
she sleepily told her beads. The wind had
risen a little. and walled round the old
chateau. and blew in at the broken windows
with a chilly blast; but We piled the wood
high, and the flames cracked and reared
up the chimney.