The Holly chieftain., 1902-10-24

eyes wers glued upon the star-lit har-
boz, where the rocky promontory OF
Aentone ran like great scimetAr into
the sea.
Meanwhile. the last scene in the
exciting drama was being enacted be-
low.
Jones had bided his slime, knowing
that he held the trumps with which to
sweep the board. Some men take the
keenest satisfaction In allowing mat
ters to almost reach . victory for the
opposing forces ere showing an In
vincibls hand.
Merrick was grinding his teeth In
anger because he found himself un-
able to assist Constance down the
steep path that would take them to
the beach.
He knew now that the sensation he
experienced At sight Of the English
boat had some foundation; and he was
far from being = superstitious man.
He did not intend to give up with
out one moro desperate struggle;
they had torn half Of his coat from his
back, and might % wen finish the job.
At the same time he was fully
aware how hopelessly such . battle
must be, with such tremendous odds
against him.
The descent of the steep path had
been accomplished In safety. and now
they stood where the little wavelets
washed up ON the pebbly strand: in
the daytime 1t was . beautiful spot,
and even In the starlight With numer-
Gus boats drawn upon the beach, 1t
presented an attractive appearance.
This. was where Jones had mar
shaled his forces and lay In wait like
! huge spider. ready TO pounce upon
his foe.
Count Icons first intimation of dan.
ger was when voice called out sud
denly In French:
Make ready"
The awful clicking. as of many ham
mers belonging to firearms being
drawn back. sounded from the dark
ness around. from behind adjacent
boats and bathing houses.
1t was 80 terribly significant that
the whole of the little company came
to sudden halt, and their blood
seemed to run cold.
Take aim!" came q second method
ical order.
Good heavens! were they to be
moved down like cattle in the sham
bles. without the chance brave men
demand Of at least seeing their foes?
Count Leon. desperate fighter that
he was, could pot stand this.
Perhaps the spark of chivalry with
In his nature arose In rebellion at the
Constancs being made = victim to q
tragedy; and yet this same man was
In the act OF carrying her on to be-
come his unwilling bride. The mo-
tives Of Trenchmen are and always
will be pretty much Of 4 mystery to
Anglo-Saxon intellects.
At any rate, he had the good sense
to avert what threatened to be
tragedy by exclaiming:
Hold! do not hre! We have q
lady here!"
DO you surrender, then1" de-
manded the voice.
"on what terms7"
THAT you give up those you hold"
The count now knew with whom he
had to deal.
There was mighty struggle In
his mind, but he realized the game
was lost, and nothing could be gained
by desperate battle. since the hour
for the Orleans prince .had not yet
come.
II agree to the terms, monsieur.
providing not one Of us II detained"
he answered, steadily.
Then It IL settled. Release your
prisoners and disperse before we
change our minds"
"Ah! Monsieur Jones, I hope we
may meet again." he said. moodily,
thinking what pleasure It would be
should he run across the wonderful
Yankee somewhere In the 6oudan.
"And do not forget stromboloh,
monsieur, for he has sworn to be the
death OF you one Of these fne days"
called out the raging Cossack, who
but for villebois' restraint would
have run madly in the direction Of
the hated voice and taken his
chances.
"Au revoir, gentlemen; call on me
when you please, and you will hnd
out how We do certain things over
In dear old America. You will fnd