St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-03-05

having passed out of hearing, at is the
desire of his majesty that the Cheva-
lier de Trois be given certain freedom.
Tonight will we dine together, and If
thou
Twill be indeed an honor" replied
he, "but thou and the kings prisoner
wilt be my guests, with certain of the
officers of the garrison"
"Nay," replied I, 'for it is the kings
order that tonight none meets the
chevalier. Tomorrow
GAS thou wilt" replied he, much fat
tered that the king had spoken Of him.
Thus it came about an hour later the
Chevalier de Trois, NJ de Beaufort and
myself were seated together at the
governors table, with none other pres
ent except the sentinel beyond the
door, whose measured tramp came to
us through the thickness of the panel.
"Faith," cried De Beaufort, having
finished the meal and the wine already
mounting to his head, "methinks, being
lieutenant Of his majesty's musketeers,
many adventures have befallen thee"
aye" replied l, seeming to be half
overcome with drink land thou like
wise, being governor of ,Dauphine."
AT that he launched out into a ram
bling discourse, applying himself free
ly to the bottle till the fumes of the
wine and the heat of the room set him
nnH6inu md tNrrSpnfIu hn ell
with his head upon the table.
Raising my eyes, fixed them upon
those of the Chevalier de Trois. "Sir,"
said l, 'methinks this wine of Dau-
phine hath well nigh overcome me, and
would seek the air. If memory serves
me not a shabby trick, the way to the
rampant lies along yon passage, guard
ed by but single sentinel or per-
chance no more than two. Were l a
prisoner such odds would scarce him
der me, though from the summit of the
rampant to the ground be twenty feet
and some danger lie to life or limb.
Beyond lies the forest therefore,
Seeming to lose speech in my drunk
enness, made shift to rise from the
table that l might unbar the window.
With quick comprehension De Trois'
eyes followed me. AS l reached for
the fastening I heard a sudden move
he had snatched the sword from the
sleeping De Beaufort's side, tumbled
the sentinel from the top to the bottom
of the stairs and, wounding a second
who would have opposed him, ran
through the narrow passage, which
ended at the rampant of the fortress.
A third sentinel who guarded the way
he slashed across the face, then, reach
ing the rampant, with drawn sword in
hand, leaped over the breastwork,
gaining without injury the ground
beneath. where the darkness hid him
from those who, aroused by the cries
of the wounded sentinels, ran up, mus
kets in hand.
No one burst leap after him, and in
order to pursue they must 60 round
through the tower and gate of the cit
adel to gain the open ground outside
the walls.
The tumult caused by the shouts OF
the perplexed sentries and a discharge
of a dozen muskets on the ramparts
aroused the governor from his drunk
en- slumber Perceiving that NJ. de
Trois' chair was vacant, his sword
gone from its sheath and l, feigning
drunkenness, leaning against the win
dow, he set up a great cutlery and
dashed from the apartment. Ten min
utes later | heard the sound of gallop-
ing horses, for NJ. de Beaufort, at the
head of a score of the garrison, rode
madly forth to pHrsue the chevalier in
the darkness. As for me, having &C.
complished my errand, l lay down
upon bench, we'll knowing that, hay
ing delivered the prisoner to the gov
ernor Of the fortress, the hand Of MAJ
arin could not reach me. De Trois was
saved